Prognosis of concurrent endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy and nasal septoplasty for chronic dacryocystitis with moderate nasal septum deviation

Context: The prognosis of combined septoplasty and endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy (En-DCR) for moderate nasal septum deviation (NSD) has not yet been fully investigated. Purpose: To evaluate whether septoplasty improves the prognosis of En-DCR for moderate NSD. Settings and Design: A retrospective cohort study in a real-world clinical setting. Methods: The postoperative FICI DCR ostium grading scores and functional and anatomical information at 1, 2, 3, and 6 months were determined for consecutive patients with chronic dacryocystitis (CD) and moderate NSD who underwent En-DCR. Statistical Analysis Used: Univariate and generalized estimating equation multivariate analyses were used to compare the outcomes of the septoplasty and non-septoplasty groups. Results: En-DCR and septoplasty were concurrently performed for 32 (20.1%, 32/158) cases. The total FICI DCR ostial scores for the septoplasty and non-septoplasty groups were highest at the first (4.97 ± 0.177 vs. 4.97 ± 0.176, P > 0.05) and lowest at the sixth (4.41 ± 1.341 vs. 4.50 ± 1.355, P > 0.05) postoperative months. At the end of follow-up, the two groups showed comparable proportions of patients requiring definitive intervention for the ostium (6.3% vs. 7.1%, P > 0.05), comparabe functional success rates (87.5% vs. 90.5%, P > 0.05) and anatomical success rates (93.8% vs. 92.9%, P > 0.05). Only the non-septoplasty group experienced nasal mucosal adhesions (3.2%, 4/126). Conclusions: In patients with CD and moderate NSD, nasal septoplasty did not impact En-DCR prognosis, but reduced the complications. Skilled surgeons should reconsider septoplasty in the absence of otolaryngological indications.