Effect of Septum Deviation on Osteomeatal Complex Distances

Abstract

It is known that deviation of the septum plays an etiological role in the obstructions formed in the osteomeatal complex. In this study, it was aimed to evaluate the effect of the degree of deviation of the nasal septum on the distances between the bone structures forming the osteomeatal complex. Method: The research universe was obtained by retrospectively scanning 1200 computed tomography (CT) images of January 2018-December 2019 in the PACS archive of the Department of Radiology of Sivas Cumhuriyet Faculty of Medicine Hospital. A total of 453 individuals, 228 females and 225 males (18-82 years old) meeting the criteria for inclusion in the study were included. Septal deviation angle was measured. Individuals were grouped according to the degree of septal deviation. Osteomeatal complex spaces (OMC) were evaluated according to the degree of septal deviation. In the study, the distance between OMC spaces was also investigated in the presence of sinusitis. Results: In the septum, the distance between lamina papyricea and middle nasal concha (LP-MNC) at medium and high grades was found to be large in the opposite direction of the deviation. The distance between the lamina papyricea and uncinate process [ethmoidal infundibulum (LP-UP)] was small on the right side in low-grade deviation to the right. When the distance between uncinate process and middle nasal concha (UP-MNC) and the distance between LP-UP was compared, it was found to be smaller in the direction of deviation in individuals with middle deviation to the left (p < 0.05). While the right osteometal complex spaces were found to be smaller than the control group, the distance between UP-MNC from the left osteomeatal spaces made a difference with the control group. Conclusions: Degrees and type of septal deviation were effective in narrowing the osteomeatal complex spaces. It was determined that OMC distances did not change with the presence of sinusitis. It is thought that it may be useful to evaluate the degree of septal deviation in obstruction of osteomeatal complex spaces and mucosal changes in the paranasal region.