ENDOSCOPIC SEPTAL SPUR RESECTION

A variety of surgical approaches exists for the management of nasal septal spurs in patients who undergo endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS). Treatment of septal spurs in the past has been frequently addressed by septoplasty which can result in increased bleeding and length of surgical procedure as well as mandate postoperative nasal packing. Individually each of these problems can jeopardize the success of endoscopic sinus surgery. An endoscopic approach, which targets the septal spur alone, can minimize perioperative morbidity. The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate the effectiveness of endoscopic septal spur resection (ESSR) for the management of significant septal spurs in 8 patients who underwent concurrent ESSR during ESS for chronic sinusitis. Surgical technique and postoperative results are discussed and suggest that ESSR is a valuable alternative to more traditional techniques.