Relationships of Direction and Degree of Nasal Septum Deviation with Nasal Floor Morphology

Abstract

Background and Objectives: Nasal septum deviation can affect nasal bone growth and facial morphology. We used computed tomography image to clarify the relationships between nasal septal deviation and nasal floor morphology in Koreans. Materials and Methods: From 2006 to 2016, CT images of 687 patients of nasal septal deviation and 100 of non-nasal septal deviation were retrospectively analyzed. Relationship between nasal septum and nasal floor was analyzed on 271 subjects whose nasal septum and nasal floor are both deviated. Only cephalocaudal C-shape was analysed, based on the Guyuron classification . The angle of the nasal floor measured at three vertical reference planes were used to assess the relationships with angle of nasal septal deviation. Results: The number of patients with nasal floor deviation was 39.4% in nasal septal deviation group and 17.0% in control group, respectively; nasal floor was more uneven when nasal septum deviated (p<0.001). In 271 patients with both nasal septum and floor deviation, the mean angles of nasal septum and nasal floor were 11.24° and 5.60° respectively. The direction of nasal floor was significantly deviated in the opposite to nasal septum (28% : 72%, p<0.01) in both sex. But the degree of asymmetry of the nasal floor was not significantly correlated with the degree of nasal septal deviation. Conclusions: Nasal floor asymmetry occurred in the opposite direction to nasal septal deviation in 72% of patients. In patients with nasal septal deviation during growth, facial growth may occur asymmetrically, which is an important consideration during treatment of nasal septal deviation. (J Clinical Otolaryngol 2020;31:181-187)