Nasal Septal Deviation in the Pediatric and Adult Populations

The article "Nasal Septal Deviation in the Pediatric and Adult Populations" by Reitzen SD, Chung W, Shah AR explores the prevalence and potential causes of nasal septal deviation across different age groups. Utilizing computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans of 81 patients who underwent head and neck imaging for various reasons, the study divides subjects into four age categories: younger than 4 months; 4 months to less than 5 years; 5 to 15 years; and more than 15 years.

 

The study introduces a novel measure called "tortuosity" to examine and compare the degree of nasal septal deviation among these groups. Tortuosity is defined as the ratio of the actual length of the septum to its ideal (straight) length. The findings indicate that subjects under 5 years of age exhibit significantly less septal tortuosity compared to older children and adults, suggesting a higher frequency of nasal septal deviation in the latter groups.

 

These observations lead the authors to conclude that nasal septal deviation occurs more frequently in older children and adults, implying a noncongenital etiology for most cases. However, the continued growth of the septum throughout childhood and the potential for a genetic predisposition to later development of a deviated nasal septum are not ruled out by these findings.

 

This study is significant as it uses a uniform measure to compare septal deviation across different age groups for the first time, providing insights that may suggest the majority of nasal septal deviations develop postnatally rather than being present at birth (Reitzen, Chung, & Shah, 2011).