Impact of Septoplasty on hearing and middle ear function

Background: Deviated nasal septum affects hearing and middle ear ventilation by altering eustachain tube function. It leads to ear fullness, affects middle ear ventilation and impacts hearing. Septoplasty is commonly done for deviated septum. So, this study aims to find out if Septoplasty can lead to improvement of hearing and middle ear function and reduce patients ear complaints.Methods: Patients with Deviated nasal septum requiring septoplasty surgery were assessed for ear symptoms, hearing and middle ear pressure by detailed history taking, pure tone audiometry and tympanometry. They then underwent septoplasty and were again assessed post operatively after 2days, 4weeks, 8weeks and 12weeks of surgery. The pre-and post-operative results were compared and analysed.Results: The most common symptom in patients at pre-operative visit was ear fullness and hearing loss was of conductive type. Post operatively there was worsening of symptoms, hearing and middle ear functions after 2days but marked improvement was seen in symptom of ear fullness, conductive hearing and normalisation of middle ear pressure at 8-12weeks after surgery.Conclusions: Septoplasty improves hearing and middle ear function in patients with deviated nasal septum and the improvement is seen 8 to 12weeks after surgery