Abstract

Objectives: In this study, the results of pediatric septoplasty performed at a tertiary care center are presented, and the safety, effectiveness, and complications of the surgery are discussed in comparison with the existing literature.

Patients and Methods: A retrospective analysis of medical records was performed for pediatric patients (under 18 years of age) who underwent septoplasty between October 2022 and January 2025. Patients with a history of prior nasal surgery, nasal mass, septal abscess, or cosmetic rhinoplasty were excluded. Data collected included age, sex, comorbidities, surgical indications, operative findings, complications, and follow-up outcomes.

Results: In total, 37 cases (24 males, 13 females; mean age: 11.4 ± 3.2 years; range, 0 to 18 years) with nasal obstruction were included in the analysis. Patients were categorized into two groups according to their age: Group 1 (13 males, 3 females; mean age: 8.06 ± 1.39 years; range, 0 to 10 years) and Group 2 (16 males, 5 females; mean age: 14.4 ± 1.67 years; range, 11 to 18 years). Postoperative complications were observed in 13.5% of cases (n = 5), consisting of septal hematoma (n = 1), synechiae (n = 2), and epistaxis (n = 2). Two patients required revision surgery. Comparison of the two age groups revealed no significant differences in complication rates, reported complaints, or follow-up periods (p > 0.05). The mean follow-up was 15.1 ± 2.6 months.

Conclusion: Pediatric septoplasty can be considered a safe and effective procedure for nasal obstruction when performed with a conservative approach that preserves growth zones. While early surgical intervention does not appear to significantly impact complication rates, long-term studies with larger cohorts are necessary to evaluate potential effects on facial development and quality of life.

Citation: Toptaş G, Dağlı M. Pediatric septoplasty in a tertiary care center: A study on surgical outcomes. Praxis Otorhinolaryngol 2026;14(3):159-164. doi: 10.5606/ kbbu.2026.3.

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

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The authors declare that artificial intelligence (AI) tools were not used, or were used solely for language editing, and had no role in data analysis, interpretation, or the formulation of conclusions. All scientific content, data interpretation, and conclusions are the sole responsibility of the authors. The authors further confirm that AI tools were not used to generate, fabricate, or ‘hallucinate’ references, and that all references have been carefully verified for accuracy.

G.T., M.D.: Idea/concept; M.D.: Design control/supervision; G.T.: Data collection and/or processing, analysis and/or interpretation, literature review, writing the article, critical review, references and fundings, materials.

The authors declared no conflicts of interest with respect to the authorship and/or publication of this article.

The authors received no financial support for the research and/or authorship of this article.