Abstract
Background Deviated nasal septum is a common cause of symptoms for nasal obstruction. Patients with nasal septum deviation who undergo septoplasty have improvements in their disease-specific quality of life for nasal obstruction. Objective The aim of this study was to identify the contributing factors of recurrent nasal septum deviation following primary septoplasty. Materials and methods This retrospective cross-sectional study reviewed the records of all patients who underwent primary septoplasty between 2017 and 2018; then presented to Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Outpatient Clinic, King Abdulaziz University Hospital with recurrent deviated nasal septum. Results In the current study, 362 patients were included. Most patients were Saudis (73.2%); and had neither comorbidities (73.5%) nor chronic diseases (92%). At the time of primary septoplasty, most patients were aged from 18 to 59 years (78.2%). Most patients had left septal deviation; underwent closed approach; and did not suffer postoperative complications (94.5%). The most common types of deviated nasal septum at the time of primary septoplasty were types 3 (38.1%) and 2 (31.5%), while type 2 was the most common at second septoplasty. The time between first septoplasty and recurrence of deviated nasal septum ranged from 1 to 72 months; with a median time of 12 months. The results of multiple linear regression showed that Saudi male patients who had a concomitant nasal surgery had a significantly increased time interval between first septoplasty and recurrence (P<0.05). The presence of either comorbidities or chronic diseases resulted in a decrease of the interval. Conclusion In patients who suffered from recurrence after primary septoplasty, types 2 and 3, left deviated nasal septum, and closed approach septoplasty were significantly frequent. Factors that resulted in longer time interval between first septoplasty and recurrence were male gender, Saudi nationality, concomitant nasal surgery, and absence of either comorbidities or chronic diseases.