Deviated Nasal Septum
From bonepath
Deviation of the bony nasal septum (perpendicular plates of the ethmoid and vomer) commonly occurs along with a fracture of the nasal bones (Rhee et al., 2004), or some other facial injury (Gregg and Gregg, 1987). In fact, fracture of the nasal bones is the most common type of facial injury, and the nasal septum is probably involved in most nasal fractures, which tend to befall males more often than females (Rhee et al., 2004; Hwang et al., 2005). Rhee and colleagues (2004) found that individuals with septal fracture had significantly higher incidence of tearing of the nasal mucosa. A deviated nasal septum can greatly obstruct the nasal airway (Chun et al., 2009), and can even cause crackling sounds as the fractured bones move against one another (“crepitation”; Rhee et al., 2004). Clinically, a deviated nasal septum results in a lower nasal mucociliary transport rate (Polat and Dostbil, 2010). Indeed, the mucociliary activity is the nose’s first line of defense against infection of the nasal cavity, and reduced activity due to septal fracture could predispose an individual to infection. Cosmetically, a deviated nasal septum can prevent fractured nasals from healing symmetrically, even when the latter have been set surgically (“posttraumatic nasal deformity”; Rhee et al., 2004).
[edit] Examples from Ford Collection
[edit] References
Chun KW, Han SK, Kim SB, and Kim WK. 2009. Influence of Nasal Bone Fracture and Its Reduction on the Airway. Annals of Plastic Surgery 63: 63-66.
Gregg JB and Gregg PS. 1987. Dry Bones, Dakota Territory Reflected: An illustrated descriptive analysis of the health and well being of previous people and cultures as mirrored in their remnants. Souix Falls: JB and PS Gregg.
Hwang K, You SH, Kim SG, and Lee SI. 2006. Analysis of Nasal Bone Fractures; A Six-year Study of 503 Patients. Journal of Craniofacial Surgery 17: 261-264.
Polat C and Dostbil Z. 2010. Evalutaion of the nasal mucociliary transport rate by rhinoscintigraphy before and after surgery in patients with deviated nasal septum. European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology 267: 529-535.
Rhee SC, Kim YK, Cha JH, Kang SR, and Park HS. 2004. Septal Fracture in Simple Nasal Bone Fracture. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery 113: 45-52.
