Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42087005›Full record

ArticleEuropean archives of oto-rhino-laryngology : official journal of the European Federation of Oto-Rhino-Laryngological Societies (EUFOS) : affiliated with the German Society for Oto-Rhino-Laryngology - Head and Neck Surgery2026

Beyond structural defect: quality of life impact of nasal septal perforation in adults - a scoping review of validated patient-reported outcome measures.

Berta Alegre Edo, Katherine Yuen-Ato, Sara Jubes-Monforte, Natalia Arango-Cabezas, María Jesús Rojas-Lechuga, Manuel Bernal-Sprekelsen, Isam Alobid

Abstract readScoping Review
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in European archives of oto-rhino-laryngology : official journal of the European Federation of Oto-Rhino-Laryngological Societies (EUFOS) : affiliated with the German Society for Oto-Rhino-Laryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Berta Alegre EdoRhinology and Skull Base Unit, ENT department, Hospital Clínic, IDIBAPS, CIBERES, Barcelona, Spain. bertaalegre@gmail.com.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3378-9725
Katherine Yuen-AtoENT department, Hospital Universitari Joan XXIII de Tarragona, Tarragona, Spain.
Sara Jubes-MonforteRhinology and Skull Base Unit, ENT department, Hospital Clínic, IDIBAPS, CIBERES, Barcelona, Spain.
Natalia Arango-CabezasRhinology and Skull Base Unit, ENT department, Hospital Clínic, IDIBAPS, CIBERES, Barcelona, Spain.
María Jesús Rojas-LechugaRhinology and Skull Base Unit, ENT department, Hospital Clínic, IDIBAPS, CIBERES, Barcelona, Spain.
Manuel Bernal-SprekelsenRhinology and Skull Base Unit, ENT department, Hospital Clínic, IDIBAPS, CIBERES, Barcelona, Spain.
Isam AlobidRhinology and Skull Base Unit, ENT department, Hospital Clínic, IDIBAPS, CIBERES, Barcelona, Spain.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundNasal septal perforation (NSP) is a structural defect of the nasal septum that can lead to significant symptoms and functional impairment. Although airflow dynamics and mucosal disruption have been proposed to explain symptom burden, the impact of NSP on patient quality of life (QoL) has not been systematically synthesized. The aim of this work is to systematically review the literature evaluating QoL outcomes in adults with NSP using validated patient-reported outcome measures.

methodsThis review followed PRISMA-ScR guidelines. Searches were conducted in PubMed and Web of Science without date restrictions (latest update: October 2025). Eligible studies included adults with symptomatic NSP in whom QoL outcomes were reported using validated questionnaires. Two independent reviewers screened studies and extracted data.

resultsFrom 686 records, 33 studies met inclusion criteria involving 1638 patients. Study designs were primarily case series (n=21) and cross-sectional studies (n=7), with sample sizes ranging from 6-202 patients. SNOT-22 scores across studies indicated moderate-to-severe QoL impairment (range 38.6-53.7). NOSE scores ranged from 39.0-80.0, while NOSE-Perf scores ranged from 13.8-26.4. Limited studies reported generic QoL outcomes (SF-36) or NSP-specific tools (SEPEQoL), but all reflected significant functional impact. Aetiology was most commonly postsurgical, and anterior perforations predominated. Studies reporting surgical outcomes consistently suggested substantial postoperative improvements across QoL instruments. DISCUSSION: NSP is associated with clinically meaningful QoL impairment, particularly in rhinologic, sleep and psychological domains. Despite growing interest, evidence remains heterogeneous and limited by variable reporting of perforation characteristics and inconsistent use of QoL instruments. Standardized assessment and dedicated NSP-specific outcome measures are needed. Future research should focus on prospective, multicentred studies evaluating both symptom burden and long-term treatment outcomes.

Indexed as

Nasal Septal PerforationPatient Reported Outcome MeasuresQuality of LifeAdultHumansNasal septal perforationNoseNOSE-PerfQuality of lifeSEPEQoLSeptal perforationSF-36SNOT-22SNOT-25

Identifiers

PMID42087005

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.