A prospective, randomized, single-blinded controlled trial on biodegradable synthetic polyurethane foam as a packing material after septoplasty.

BACKGROUND: We evaluated synthetic polyurethane foam (SPF; Polyganics BV, Groningen, The Netherlands) as a packing material used after septoplasty compared with Merocel (Medtronic Xomed Surgical Products, Jacksonville, FL) in the aspects of clinical efficacy and the subjective severity of symptoms.

METHODS: A prospective, randomized, single-blinded controlled study was performed in 64 patients who had undergone septoplasty. The patients were randomized to receive Merocel or SPF after septoplasty. Assessments of clinical efficacy on bleeding and pain were done and subjective symptoms related to packing materials were evaluated using questionnaires quantified by the visual analog scale.

RESULTS: There was no difference in repacking or additional packing due to postoperative bleeding, bleeding and/or septal hematoma on the removal of packing, and the mucosal condition after packing removal during postoperative period between the Merocel and SPF groups. Bleeding and pain during packing removal was significantly lower in patients with SPF packing. Also, in the SPF group, patient's general satisfaction and willingness to reuse the material were higher compared with the Merocel group.

CONCLUSION: SPF is as suitable as Merocel to be used after septoplasty with beneficial effects on bleeding and pain at packing removal.