Comparison of different nasal septal areas between patients with and without nasal obstruction.

OBJECTIVES

We intended to investigate the deviation of septal swell body, perpendicular plate, septal spur and vomer in patients with and without nasal obstruction.

METHODS

We compared the deviation of these septal areas in computed tomography scans of patients scheduled for nasal surgical procedures (cases) and of patients without clinically relevant nasal obstruction (controls).

RESULTS

Septal swell body was similarly deviated between 56 cases (median value: 6.5 mm) and 56 controls (6.4 mm; p > 0.2). Septal spur was more deviated in cases (5.6 mm) than in controls (4.7 mm; p < 0.001). The deviation of perpendicular plate (found in 28/112 subjects) did not differ significantly between cases (3.0 mm) and controls (2.2 mm; p > 0.2). The deviation of vomer (found in 71/112 subjects) was larger in cases (7.1 mm) than in controls (4.3 mm; p = 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Septal spur, vomer and perpendicular plate were more frequent causes of nasal obstruction compared to septal swell body.