Tongue in groove, does it works to prevent post-operative septal deviation

Although septoplasty may be considered the commonest nasal procedure done, still recurrence of anterior septal deviation is often a problem facing rhinology surgeons. Recurrent anterior septal deviation is said to be either due to memory cells, resilience of the cartilage and/or unstable caudal end of the septum. In this study we aimed at fixing the caudal end of the septum between the medial crurae of the lower lateral cartilages after retrograde dissection followed by tongue in groove fixation using absorbable sutures. In the majority of cases the septum was maintained in the mid-line without recurrent postoperative deviation together with optimal tip projection and rotation.