Evaluation of the effect of nasal septum deviation on chronic sinusitis

Chronic sinusitis results from micro-anatomic disturbances, especially from narrow airways and mucous contact areas in the nose and sinuses. One of the predisposing factors is the nasal septum deviation. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to determine the relative frequency of sinusitis severity in patients with nasal septum deviation, the effect of age in patients with nasal septum deviation on the severity of sinusitis, and the effect of nasal septum deviation severity on sinusitis severity. In this descriptive, cross-sectional study 109 adult subjects with chronic sinusitis, who had Water’s radiographic views and CT scans were evaluated. These patients had nasal septum deviation with no other predisposing factors for sinusitis. Data was analyzed with Spearman’s correlation coefficient test (α = 0.05). All the subjects with sinusitis had nasal septum deviation, which demonstrates a strong correlation between chronic sinusitis and nasal septum deviation. The highest and lowest frequencies were observed in the 20-29 and >50 age groups, respectively. There was no significant relationship between sinusitis severity and nasal septum deviation severity on one hand and aging on the other. Under the limitations of the present study it was concluded that there was a significant correlation between nasal septum deviation severity and sinusitis severity.