Frequency of Nasal Septum Deviation and Concha Bullosa: Forensic Anthropological Implications

Williane Martins Dos Santos Williane Martins Dos Santos,Patricia Shirley De Almeida Prado Patricia Shirley De Almeida Prado

doi:10.17063/bjfs7(1)y201792

Williane Martins Dos Santos Williane Martins Dos Santos, Patricia Shirley De Almeida Prado Patricia Shirley De Almeida Prado

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.17063/bjfs7(1)y201792

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Abstract

Concha bullosa (CB) and nasal septum deviation (NSD) can be a congenital trait or be linked to respiratory pathologies. Symptoms include snoring, sleep apnea, and other respiratory disorders that can be easily recognized by relatives and partners. CB and NSD are easy to identify and can be very applicable in the human identification process during routine forensic anthropological investigations. A physical-anthropological analysis was carried out by observing the presence of NSD and CB in 57 skulls from a Brazilian skull collection. Of the 57 skulls, 14 (24.6%) showed septal deviation, 19.3% to the right side and 5.3% to the left side. Regarding CB, this trait was observed in 16 skulls (34.8%) unilaterally and bilaterally in 9 skulls (19.6%). Our results are compatible with the literature and we suggest that CB influences contralateral NSD. The frequency and clinical aspects of these traits may be considered in a forensic investigation.

Highlights

Human remains often garner the attention of the families of the missing, which leads to multiple attempts at positive identification using forensic anthropological analysis, DNA, ante mortem medical and dental records
Bony changes in the nasal cavity such as nasal septum deviation (NSD) and concha bullosa are easy to identify and can be very applicable to forensic anthropology
NSD is a variance of the nasal septum that can occur due to different etiologies such as irregular osseous development, trauma, or overgrowth of the nasal concha; this contributes to nasal obstruction and may lead to some level of facial deformity[3,4,5]

Summary

Introduction

Human remains often garner the attention of the families of the missing, which leads to multiple attempts at positive identification using forensic anthropological analysis, DNA, ante mortem medical and dental records. Physical or biological anthropologists who specialize in forensics primarily focus their studies on the human skeleton.” (http://www.theafba.org/). The nasal cavity presents some of most common bony variations[1]. This cavity is divided by a nasal septum and on its lateral wall can be seen a curved bony structure called the nasal concha (superior, middle and inferior); between them there are the respective meatus where the nasal cavity has communications with the nasal sinuses and lacrimonasal duct[2]. Bony changes in the nasal cavity such as nasal septum deviation (NSD) and concha bullosa are easy to identify and can be very applicable to forensic anthropology. NSD is a variance of the nasal septum that can occur due to different etiologies such as irregular osseous development, trauma, or overgrowth of the nasal concha; this contributes to nasal obstruction and may lead to some level of facial deformity[3,4,5]

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