The Relationship Between Facial Asymmetry and Nasal Septal Deviation.

Abstract

Facial asymmetry is not uncommon in normal individuals. Nasal septum is known to play a direct and indirect role in the premaxillary and maxillary growth. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the integrated relationship between nasal septal deviation and facial asymmetry by means of 3-dimensional analysis in a larger number of patients than those in previous studies. From April 2011 to March 2014, a total of 60 subjects were included. They had facial asymmetry confirmed by facial three-dimensional CT. Patients who had a history of facial bone fracture or congenital craniofacial deformities were excluded. Facial asymmetry was analyzed in 3 aspects: facial width, projection, and height. Nasal septal deviations included horizontal and vertical deviations. The patients with right horizontal nasal septal deviation to the right had a wider right side of the face (P = 0.028). Facial asymmetry was observed more frequently in the right side of the face in the current study (P = 0.020). There were no other close relationships between nasal septal deviation and facial asymmetry. We demonstrate that there is a strong relationship between nasal septal deviation to the right and a wider right hemiface in facial asymmetry patients. Also, facial asymmetry patients tend to have a wider right side of the face compared to the left side.