The use of different intranasal splints Doyle splints versus Reuter bivalve splints versus no splints in primary septal surgeries: A randomised clinical trial looking at morbidity

Abstract

ObjectiveThe objective of this study is to compare the morbidity of different types of intranasal splints (Doyle splints and Reuter bivalve splints) with no intranasal splints in primary septal surgeries and concomitant submucosal reduction of the inferior turbinate.DesignRandomised clinical trialSettingSingle‐Center trial at a tertiary care facilityParticipantsIn this randomised clinical trial, 123 consecutive patients underwent primary septoplasty with bilateral submucosal reduction of the inferior turbinate, with no other concurrent procedure. Patients were randomised into three groups: Doyle splints, Reuter bivalve splints and patients with no splints placed.Main Outcome MeasuresFollowing surgery, the patients were seen at three consecutive visits. During each visit, the Visual Analogue Scale score for headache, nasal obstruction, overall pain and bleeding and an endoscopic score for secretions, oedema and synechiae was filled.ResultsPatients were randomised into three groups, 42 received Doyle splints, 41 Reuter bivalve splints and 40 had no splints inserted. When comparing the three groups, the first two post‐op visits were scheduled significantly earlier in patients with splints (p < .05). The scores from both groups with splints were statistically higher for headache, nasal obstruction and pain, for the first visit only (p < .05). There was no statistical difference between groups when looking at each subset of the endoscopic score, at each visit (p > .05).ConclusionIncreased post‐operative pain, headaches and nasal obstruction scores were encountered in patients who had splints after surgery. However, endoscopic scores were statistically similar across the three groups with no difference in post‐operative endoscopic scores at each visit. and no difference was seen in symptom scores and endoscopic scores between patients with different splints.