The Effect of Septoplasty on Voice Performance in Patients With Severe and Mild Nasal Septal Deviation.

Objective: The authors aimed to analyze the effect of septoplasty, performed in 2 groups with different grades of nasal septal deviation (NSD), on voice performance.

Methods: A total of 43 patients who had septoplasty due to NSD and were included in the study. The study groups were divided into 2 groups as groups A and B. The patients in group A had severe NSD, and 1 of the nasal cavity was obstructed totally or near totally. In group B, the NSD narrowed the nasal passage, and the deviation was not severe. The voice performance was analyzed preoperatively, and 1 month after surgery with both objective and subjective methods. Objective analysis included acoustic voice analysis, and measurement of F0, jitter %, shimmer %. Preoperative and postoperative F0, jitter %, shimmer %, and Voice Handicap Index-30 (VHI-30) were compared in groups A and B.

Results: F0 showed a statistically significant improvement after surgery in group A (P <0.001). Jitter %, shimmer %, and VHI-30 scores also improved after surgery, without any statistical significance. In group B, preoperative and postoperative F0, jitter %, and shimmer % were similar. However, VHI-30 scores showed a significant improvement postoperatively (P = 0.005). Comparison of groups A and B for improvements of the voice parameters revealed that group A showed improvements in all voice parameters, and the improvements of F0 and shimmer % were statistically significant.

Conclusion: Septoplasty performed for severe NSD obstructing nasal lumen totally or near totally results in significant improvements in the voice performance.