Abstract
BackgroundA preliminary survey showed half of the participating Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNLAF) F-16 fighter pilots to have nasal integument and osteocartilagenous disorders related to wearing in-flight oxygen masks.AimTo make an inventory of these disorders and possible associated factors.MethodsAll RNLAF F-16 pilots were requested to fill out a semi-structured questionnaire for a cross-sectional survey. Additionally, one squadron in The Netherlands and pilots in operational theater were asked to participate in a prospective study that required filling out a pain score after each flight. Pilot- and flight-related variables on all participants were collected from the RNLAF database. A linear mixed model was built to identify associated factors with the post-flight pain score.ResultsThe response rate to the survey was 83%. Ninety of the 108 participants (88%, 6 missing) reported tenderness, irritation, pain, erythema, skin lesions, callous skin, or swelling of nasal bridge integument or architecture. Seventy-two participants (71%, 6 missing) reported their symptoms to be troublesome after a mean of 6±3 out of 10 flights (0;10, 54 missing). Sixty-six pilots participated in scoring post-flight pain. Pain scores were significantly higher if a participant had ≥3 nasal disorders, after longer than average flights, after flying abroad, and after flying with night vision goggles (respectively +2.7 points, p = 0.003; +0.2 points, p = 0.027; +1.8 points, p = 0.001; +1.2 points p = 0.005). Longer than average NVG flights and more than average NVG hours per annum decreased painscores (respectively −0.8 points, p = 0.017; −0.04 points, p = 0.005).ConclusionsThe majority of the RNLAF F-16 fighter pilot community has nasal disorders in the contact area of the oxygen mask, including pain. Six pilot- or flight-related characteristics influence the experienced level of pain.
Highlights
In 2009, we reported on the external nasal deformities acquired by two F-16 fighter pilots during their flying careers
We organized a preliminary inquiry among F-16 fighter pilots in collaboration with the Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNLAF), in September 2008
One-hundred and eight out of 130 F-16 fighter pilots filled out the questionnaire of the cross-sectional survey, resulting in an over-all response rate of 83% (Table 1)
Summary
In 2009, we reported on the external nasal deformities acquired by two F-16 fighter pilots during their flying careers. [1] One pilot’s nasal dorsal hump had increased and the overlying skin had become permanently erythematous. In 2009, we reported on the external nasal deformities acquired by two F-16 fighter pilots during their flying careers. The deformities had been painful after wearing an oxygen mask and sufficiently disturbing to warrant surgery from the pilots’ point of view. The nasal problems, proved little known to flight surgeons and have, so far, not been reported in medical literature. We organized a preliminary inquiry among F-16 fighter pilots in collaboration with the Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNLAF), in September 2008. A preliminary survey showed half of the participating Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNLAF) F-16 fighter pilots to have nasal integument and osteocartilagenous disorders related to wearing in-flight oxygen masks
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