Deformation of the nasal septum in children, adolescents, and adults in Western Pomerania Province of Poland

Abstract

Objectives

Nasal septum deformation (NSD) contributes to the occurrence of upper respiratory tract diseases in around 45-55% of Poland's population. The evaluation of frequency of occurrence and type of nasal septum deformation among randomly chosen representatives of the Szczecin and surrounding area population was the aim of this study.

Methods

NSD was assessed in 235 patients (123 male, 112 female) aged 5-60. Mladina's classification system was used for the evaluation.

Results

Deformations of nasal septum were found in 43% of the examined subjects. Type 3 of NSD dominated (12.4%), while types 2 and 1 were found in 10.3% and 4.2% of the subjects, respectively. 9.2% of the patients showed type 5 of deformation, while types 6, 4, and 7 were found in 1.3%, 3.2% and 2.7% of the patients, respectively.

Conclusions

Straight nasal septum was found in females more often than in males, mostly on the left side. Associations between NSD, on one side, and age, sex, and traumas, on the other were found. NSD influenced the quality of respiration and frequency of upper respiratory tract diseases in the examined subjects.

Introduction

The future nose develops from five facial processes surrounding the primary oral cavity and can be visible in the middle of the face between 3.5 and 5 week of gestation. Physiologically, the nose is the beginning of respiratory tract. It filtrates, humidifies, and heats the inspired air. Human nose is considered to be a single anatomical structure, but in fact it is composed of two independently functioning cavities separated by the nasal septum. Perfectly straight septum is a rarity and can be found in a minority of population. Phylogenetically and functionally, nasal septum is a midline structure. Man seems to be the only mammal species in which the deformation occurs. Frequency of nasal septum deformation is determined by the genetic, cultural, and environmental factors [1].

Nasal septum deformation may involve the cartilaginous or osseous part. It may be a reason of a decrease in air flow through the nose, causing ventilation and oxygen saturation impairments. A long-lasting nasal obstruction may become a cause of ischemic heart disease, hypertension, pulmonary hypertension, and is an important factor contributing to obstructive sleep apnea [2]. Ailments associated with nasal septal deformation may manifest themselves as headache (inflammatory process in paranasal sinuses), breathing impairment, dysosmia, or anosmia.

The nose and its structures during the development are subject to activity of various factors which may cause defects in its morphology and functioning. Some deformations result from perinatal injury [3, 4]. Other authors do not find any correlation between nose deformations and the type of delivery [5–7]. Longitudinal studies performed in neonates and later in the same children at age 5-6 and 8 indicate that septum deformations may increase, but it never decreases [8]. It is undoubted that the final shape of the nasal septum is a result of complicated and irregular evolution of nasomaxillary mass and that it is most influenced by traumas [9–12].

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the frequency of occurrence and type of nasal septum deformation among randomly chosen representatives of the Szczecin and surrounding area population.

Material and methods

The evaluation of nasal cavity structure with particular emphasis on the nasal septum was performed in randomly chosen citizens of Szczecin and suburbs, reporting to Szczecin's hospitals for X-ray examinations of sinuses or other areas of the head. 235 subjects were included into this study - 123 males (52.3%) and 112 females (47.5%) - aged 5-60 years. The population sample was stratified into 6 groups according to age as shown in Table 1.

Table 1 Sex and age in the studied age-groups.

Additionally, a questionnaire survey regarding possible causes of deformation (type of delivery, traumas, and diseases) and respiratory dysfunctions, ailments, and laryngological treatment was performed. CT scans were performed in 5 mm sequences from the tip of anterior nasal spine to the root of posterior nasal spine. Nasal septum was visible on every scan and could be used as a reference and orientation point in particular scans. The nasal septum was evaluated on the basis of CT scans and its deformation was assessed according to the 7-degree Mladina classification (Figure 1).

Figure 1

Graphically presented Mladina's classification of the septum deformities. The first four types are presented from the anterior-posterior view. Type 7 presents a combination of the previous six types (modified from [11]).

Results

Nasal septum deformation was diagnosed in 101 persons (43% of the evaluated subjects). Most of the deformations were found in the 15-22 (30%) and in 8-14 (18%) years' age-groups (Figure 2). Males were more often affected than females (25 and 14%, respectively) (Table 2). The frequency of nasal septum deformation increases up to the age 22 and decreases thereafter. A significant correlation was found between the age of patients and the frequency of NSD (F = 2.35, P = 0.0003).

Figure 2

Incidence of nasal septum deformation in individual age-groups.

Table 2 Frequency of NSD (%) in relation to age and sex in the studied age-groups.

The types of deformation were variable and showed different frequency in age-groups. Deformations were more often observed in the left (49.6%) than right side (48.4%). In the groups I and II, type 1 (10.3%) and type 2 (4.2%) deformations predominated. Among the adults, type 3 (9.1%) and posterior deformation were most often observed. Type 5 was quite common in adults as well. In the studied groups, types 4, 5, 6, and 7 were not observed in children (Table 3).

Table 3 Frequency (%) of types of nasal septum deformation in relation to age group.

A comparison of the present results with those of other similar studies performed in children in Europe, Poland, Croatia, and Korea is shown in Table 4.

Table 4 Comparison of incidence of nasal septum deformation between varying groups from various locations (%).

The questionnaire we used in the present study showed that 208 persons (88.5%) were born in a natural manner, without complications. No massive nose trauma was indicated. NSD was observed in 78 persons (37.5%) in this group. In the group of 27 subjects (11.5%) born by caesarean section, who did not have any massive nose trauma in the following years, NSD was diagnosed in 5 persons (5%). Twenty seven persons (10 men, 9 boys, 4 girls, and 5 women) indicated a nose trauma due to a fall, sporting activity, or traffic accident. Three adults were diagnosed with type 7 NSD (2.7% of all deformations of that type) after a nose trauma. Four men were diagnosed with type 5 and another 3 with type 3 NSD. Seven boys, after a trauma, had type 5 and 2 had type 3 NSD. Two women had type 7, while 5 had type 5 NSD. Two girls had type 5 and type 7, while two other had type 3 NSD. All of these persons indicated trouble in breathing through the nose, especially after physical activity, and frequent nasal infections. All men having NSD after trauma indicated snoring. A significant correlation was found between the type of nasal septum deformation and nose trauma (F = 3.57, P = 0.0008).

Paranasal sinuses diseases, snoring, breathing dysfunctions, and other diseases (asthma, allergies) were more often found in subjects with type 3, 5, and 7 NSD. Ten persons had parents or grandparents with nasal septum defects (more often among males). Straight septum was found in 13.4% of females and 6.5% of males.

Discussion

NSD contributes to the pathogenesis of various upper respiratory tract diseases in 45-55% of Poland's population. Grey [13] examined 2112 skulls of adult people and found that only 21% had a straight nasal septum. This imperfection of nasal cavity structure may be caused by genetic, cultural, and environmental factors. All three determinants contribute to variable distribution of particular NSD types in various ethnic groups [14]. A study performed in 17 laryngological centers in 14 countries showed that nearly 90% of examined subjects showed at least 1 of the 7 types of nasal septum deformation. There was no correlation found between the incidence of any particular type of deformation and any particular region of the world [15]. The incidence of nasal deformities in newborns has been reported to vary from 1.45% to 6.3% [16]. Grey [17] and Sorri et al [18] have stated that a neonatal mid-septal deformity will not straighten spontaneously, while caudal deformations have a high spontaneous healing rate.

Grey [19] has also argued that most deformities will become worse with subsequent growth of the nose. Contrary to several studies on the prevalence of newborn septal deformations, there are only few reports concerning the occurrence of septal deformities in older children.

The Szczecin population studies indicate septal deformations in over 40% of persons. Most NSD cases were observed in children, adolescents, and young adults (29.8%), similarly to Zagreb's children and adolescents (28.9%) [20], while in a similar age group of the Warsaw population they were found in 40% of subjects. Results of the Szczecin population study are about 30% lower than those of the Warsaw population, which shows high variability in the incidence of NSD even in the same country. Finnish studies [21] showed the NSD incidence on the level of 42.9% of subjects aged 6-15, while in similar Korean population the incidence was around 22% [9]. There are differences in the incidence of particular types of NSD. In the Polish population, type 3 and 5 predominate [23]. Among Croatians and Koreans type 1 predominates (Table 4).

A decrease in the prevalence of type 1 NSD with age has been observed in Polish and Croatian populations. Observations of changes of Mladina's NSD types with age indicate that the septum deformation increases along with the growth of nasomaxillary mass and as a result of trauma. From the mild type 1, this according to our survey does not affect breathing, NSD progresses to types 2, 3, 5, or 7. NSD types 1, 2, 3, 5, and 7 are more frequent in older children and adolescents compared with the youngest children group. The incidence of type 1 deformation decreases with age, while that of types 2, 3, and 5 increase, especially in group 3 (15-22 years). Similar correlations were found in the Warsaw population, but type 5 was most prevalent there. Posterior deformations (type 3, 4, 5) were more frequent, according to CT scans, compared with the Croatian population, where anterior deformations were 5 times more frequent [20]. Anterior deformations are thought to be a result of trauma, while posterior ones are genetically determined and associated with the growth of nasomaxillary mass. Therefore, we assume that the growth of nasomaxillary mass influences the shape of nasal septum in the Szczecin population. Similar results were obtained in Croatian studies [20]. Differences in NSD incidence in boys and girls are thought to be a result of higher physical activity of boys and resulting increased trauma risk, but in Mladina et al's studies the NSD frequency was higher in girls than in boys [14].

The present study confirms that NSD is a frequent malformation of human nasal cavity. NSD contributes to a decrease in the quality of life and plays an important role in upper respiratory tract diseases. We summarize that (i) nasal septum deformations of type 3 is most frequently observed and its incidence increases with age; (ii) incidence of type 1 decreases with age, while those of type 3 and type 5 increase; (iii) straight septum is more often found in females than males; and (iv) septum deformations prevail in boys. The risk of nasal septum deformations increases after traumas in early stages of ontogenesis.

Conflicts of interest

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.