Objective: To compare electric drilling versus cold steel instruments in management of spur of maxillary crest of the nasal septum regarding operative details and postoperative complications.
Patients and Methods: This was a prospective comparative study evaluating two techniques for management of spur of maxillary crest of the nasal septum. Patients of the study were divided into two groups 32 patients each. In group I, the spur of the maxillary crest was removed using surgical instruments. In group II, the spur was removed using electric drilling. The two groups were compared regarding duration of maxillary crest spur removal, the amount of blood loss, the incidence of unilateral and bilateral flap injury, the incidence of anesthesia of the upper incisors and the incidence of septal perforations.
Results: In the current study, operative blood loss was less in group II with a highly significant difference (p =0.0002). However, operative duration was less in group I with a highly significant difference (p < 0.0001). There was a non-significant difference between the two groups regarding flap injury with higher incidence in group I (p = 0.6). The incidence of upper incisors anesthesia was significantly more in group I (p = 0.03). There was a non-significant difference regarding the incidence of septal perforation (p =1).
Conclusion: Both techniques are effective for correction of spurs of the maxillary crest with significantly better control of intraoperative bleeding and less postoperative central incisors anesthesia with electric drilling. However, the drilling technique consumed significantly more time.