Comparative study on clinical efficacy of endoscopic uncapping surgery versus traditional sublabial approach resection in the treatment of nasal vestibular cysts

Background Nasal vestibular cyst is a common disease in otolaryngology. Traditional surgery via the labiogingival groove approach is invasive, while the rapid development of endoscopic minimally invasive technology may be significant for the improvement of nasal vestibular cyst surgery.Objectives To compare the clinical efficacy of endoscopic uncapping surgery and traditional sublabial approach resection in treating nasal vestibular cysts, providing evidence for clinical practice selection.Methods A retrospective analysis was performed on 47 patients with nasal vestibular cysts admitted to the Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery from March 2019 to October 2024. They were divided into an endoscopic group (24 cases, undergoing endoscopic uncapping surgery) and a control group (23 cases, receiving traditional sublabial resection). Surgical indicators (operation time, intraoperative blood loss), postoperative recovery indicators (facial compression need, VAS scores at 24/48h, hospital stay), complication incidence, and cyst recurrence during follow-up were compared.Results The endoscopic group showed significantly shorter operation time [(20.13 ± 3.15) vs (59.13 ± 13.45) min], less intraoperative blood loss [(5.34 ± 0.67) vs (15.64 ± 2.63) ml], no need for facial compression (vs all controls needing it), lower VAS scores (24h: 2.13 ± 0.52 vs 4.87 ± 0.76; 48h: 1.56 ± 0.41 vs 3.92 ± 0.63), shorter hospital stay [(1.25 ± 0.31) vs (3.76 ± 0.84) days], and lower complication incidence (4.17% vs 13.04%) (all p < 0.05). No recurrence was found in either group during 12-month follow-up.Conclusion Endoscopic uncapping surgery for nasal vestibular cysts has advantages of short operation time, less bleeding, mild postoperative pain, rapid recovery, few complications, and low recurrence rate, with significant clinical effect worthy of wide promotion.