Outcomes of Septoplasty Using Mesh Cartilage in Terms of Patient Satisfaction

Abstract

Nasal airway obstruction is a common complaint in otolaryngology, frequently caused by nasal septum deviation. This study aimed to evaluate patient satisfaction following septoplasty using mesh cartilage, a bioabsorbable polycaprolactone (PCL) implant designed to provide structural support and promote tissue regeneration. A descriptive study was conducted at the Department of Otolaryngology, Khyber Peshawar Teaching Hospital, 10 September 2024 to 10 March 2025. Seventy-seven patients aged between 20-60 years old who were having mesh cartilage septoplasty were enrolled through consecutive sampling. Demographic and clinical data were noted and postoperative satisfaction evaluated. Analysis of data was done using SPSS 22.0, and chi-square test was used to perform stratification work. The average age was 37.8 +- 10.2 years, and 59.7% of them were male. Patient satisfaction after surgery was found to be 90.9 percent, and there was no significant correlation between the satisfaction and age, gender, diabetes, hypertension, smoking, and obesity (p > 0.05). The high satisfaction level justifies the effectiveness of mesh cartilage in producing positive functional and structural stability, regardless of prevalent comorbidities. This method could lower morbidity of the donor site and operation time than autologous grafts. However, its application in severely contracted noses remains limited due to potential complications like extrusion or infection during the absorption period. Larger multicenter controlled studies are recommended to further evaluate long-term outcomes, revision rates, and cost-effectiveness of this approach.