Untreated Anxiety Tied to Septoplasty Complications

A retrospective study links untreated depression or anxiety to higher postoperative complication rates after septoplasty with turbinoplasty.

Updated on Nov. 9, 2026 in Asthma

Vector-style editorial illustration of a single stainless steel nasal speculum centered on a pale surface with a soft shadow, suggesting clinical care before nasal surgery. — Virginia Commonwealth University researchers reported Sept. 25 that patients with untreated anxiety or depression had higher complication rates after septoplasty with turbinoplasty. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Researchers from Virginia Commonwealth University published a retrospective cohort study in Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery on September 25, 2026, examining depression, anxiety, and septoplasty with turbinoplasty outcomes. Patients with untreated anxiety or depression showed higher rates of postoperative complications.

Why it matters

The findings suggest that untreated mental health conditions may affect recovery after nasal surgery, which could inform preoperative screening and care planning. Clinicians may consider whether treating anxiety or depression before surgery affects outcomes.

The retrospective analysis of 30,337 patients without depression or anxiety, 5,075 with untreated conditions, and 8,953 with treated conditions found that 4.5% of untreated patients had emergency department visits within 90 days versus 8.5% of patients without the conditions. Causal mechanisms and the role of treatment in these outcomes remain unestablished by the study design.

The players

Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine

A medical school in Richmond, Virginia, whose researchers conducted the retrospective study on septoplasty outcomes.

The details

Researchers selected eligible participants who underwent septoplasty with turbinoplasty from the TriNetX Research Network database. Untreated anxiety or depression was defined as a diagnosis at least one month before surgery without pharmacologic therapy, and matched analyses compared 90-day outcomes including epistaxis, readmission, and opioid prescriptions.

At least one month before surgery: anxiety or depression diagnosis without pharmacologic therapy is recorded.
Within 90 days after surgery: postoperative complications and opioid prescriptions are measured.
September 25, 2026: study published online in Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery.

Health Landscape

The study relies on the TriNetX Research Network, a federated database of electronic health records used for observational clinical research. Its findings add to a growing body of evidence linking psychiatric comorbidities to surgical recovery, though observational designs cannot establish causation.

Patients with untreated anxiety or depression may face higher risks of complications, emergency visits, and readmission after nasal surgery. Discussing mental health history with a surgeon before a septoplasty may help inform recovery planning.

The takeaway

Mental health history may be an important factor in surgical planning, not only the procedure itself. Patients should discuss anxiety and depression openly with their care teams before nasal surgery.