Investigation on the Structure of Nasal Cavity and Its Airflow Field in Crouzon Syndrome

Abstract

Setup computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model of the nasal cavity in patients with Crouzon syndrome analyze inspiratory airflow hydrokinetics of its nasal cavity. After changing the morphosis structure of the nasal cavity by operation, compare the preoperative and postoperative alteration of the airflow field of the nasal cavity and evaluate the effect of operation on the physiological function of nasal ventilation. Eleven patients with Crouzon syndrome were underwent spiral computed tomographic laminar scanning to obtain DICOM data and establish the CFD model. The field features of the nasal cavity with inspiratory static state phase were simulated and analyzed by the Fluent software. The changed data on preoperative and postoperative flow field in the nasal cavity in 5 of 11 patients were compared and analyzed. The nasal cavity of a patient with Crouzon syndrome reflected the structural features of relatively short and high-vaulted anteroposterior diameter. The nasal valve was the narrowest region in the nasal cavity and was the key region of producing obvious pressure drop. The inspiratory static state phase reflected comparatively high local airflow rate (approximately 2.469 m/s) and sheer force of the nasal wall. With the distance increasing from the anterior naris, the pressure inside the nasal cavity was decreased gradually. The pressure drop in the nasal cavity before the front end of the concha nasalis inferior (approximately 2 cm from anterior naris) accounted for most of the pressure of the whole nasal cavity (69%-88% of the overall pressure in nasal cavity and 79.24% on average). Osteotomy advancement and distraction osteogenesis increased the anteroposterior diameter of the nasal cavity and the changed nasal resistance. By analyzing the structure of the nasal cavity of patients with Crouzon syndrome and the CFD numerical simulation of patients after the procedure, airflow distribution in patients' nasal cavity and the effect of the surgery on the structure of the nasal cavity and airflow field were realized. Nasal valve played a pivotal role in the airflow field distribution of the nasal cavity. Operation changed the nasal resistance, improved the ventilation of nasal cavity, but did not affect the airflow field distribution of nasal cavity.