Polysomnographic and pulmonary function changes in patients with sleep problems after septoplasty with turbinectomy.

OBJECT: To compare Polysomnography and Pulmonary function tests before and after Septoplasty with Turbinectomy in patients complaining of nasal obstruction and sleep problems due to deviated septum with hypertrophic inferior turbinate. METHODS: 90 patients underwent Septoplasty with Turbinectomy due to nasal obstruction and sleep problems involved in this study, their sleep quality evaluated by polysomnography before and after the surgery, their pulmonary functions assessed by spirometry before and after the operation. RESULTS: The postoperative pulmonary function values; FVC, FEV1, PEFR and postoperative polysomonographic values; AHI, Snoring index/hour, SpaO2 were higher than the preoperative values, and the results were statistically significant (p-values <0.001). CONCLUSION: Septoplasty with partial inferior turbinectomy might be a useful operation in the management of nasal obstruction and sleep problems that caused by a deviated nasal septum and hypertrophied inferior turbinate.

Rare anatomic variation: Giant unilateral concha bullosa superior.

The lateral nasal wall attaches the nasal turbinates, which could be, either pneumatized, or paradoxically curved. The turbinate pneumatization-concha bullosausually indicates the pneumatization of the middle turbinate. However, concha bullosasuperior (CBS) is also, although rare, anatomic possibility of variation. We report here a case of unilateral giant septated CBS, which was not, to our knowledge, previously reported. The case was documented in Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT). Subtle pneumatizations of inferior turbinates were found bilateral, as also were the middle conchae bullosae. The left concha bullosasuperior was very large (17.43/5.34mm), dropping down between the left middle turbinate and the contralaterally deviated nasal septum, and contacting the paradoxical curvature of the middle turbinate on that side. An incomplete oblique septum divided it incompletely into anterior and posterior chambers, it was communicating with a posterior ethmoid air cell, and was draining in the superior meatus. Care should be taken not to misdiagnose a giant CBS as a middle turbinate pneumatization, in order not to misjudge surgical corridors. Therefore, a careful anatomic CT or CBCT diagnosis would be of use for the plan of treatment.

Conchae Bullosis in a Pediatric Patient.

Pneumatization of the turbinates called concha bullosa is one of the most frequent anatomic variations of the nasal cavity. We report the first case of computed tomography findings of bilateral middle and inferior concha bullosa in a 13-year-old child with nasal obstruction. Here we describe a patient with extreme bilateral bullosa of inferior and middle conchas, as well as crista galli. The patient was treated successfully with endoscopic surgery of conchas. Nasal obstruction secondary to a bilateral turbinate bullosis in a child has not been described before. The clinicians should take this entity into consideration when evaluating the pediatric patients with nasal obstruction.

Concha Bullosa in Paleoanthropological Material.

Concha bullosa is a variant of the sinonasal anatomy in which the middle nasal turbinate contains pneumatized cells, which leads to turbinate enlargement. The reason for concha bullosa formation is unclear, but the variant is seen in up to half the modern population and it may predispose to paranasal sinusitis. The variant has hitherto featured little in paleopathology. Therefore, in the present study we seek to determine the presence of concha bullosa, with the coexisting hypertrophy of the middle turbinate and signs of sinusitis or other pathology of the paranasal complex, in a population living in Tomersdorf-Toporow in the Upper Lausatia, a historical region in Germany and Poland, presently Zgorzelec County in the Lower Silesian voivodeship, at the turn of the nineteenth and twentieth century. The material consisted of 32 skeletons (24 males, 8 females). The gender, age, and stress indicators and the presence of pathological signs were assessed, followed by CT of the skulls. We found 2 skulls (6.3 %) with concha bullosa. In one case septal nasal deviation was present. We conclude that the incidence of concha bullosa could be lower in the past times than at present. Wider research is necessary to settle whether concha bullosa is indeed a rare respiratory paleopathology or a missed, and thus underreported observation.

Inferior Turbinate Asymmetry Is a Feature of the Unilateral Complete Cleft Lip and Palate Nasal Deformity.

PURPOSE: Patients with unilateral complete cleft lip and palate (UCLP) have a characteristic bilateral septal deformity, and septal deviation can be associated with turbinate hyperplasia, leading to paradoxical nasal obstruction. The purpose of the present study was to measure and compare the bony and mucosal dimensions of the inferior turbinate on the cleft and non-cleft sides in patients with UCLP. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We implemented a retrospective cohort study of patients with UCLP who had undergone computed tomography (CT) scan between 2002 to 2013. Subjects who had undergone nasal revision, septoplasty, turbinectomy, or Le Fort I osteotomy before the imaging date were excluded. The primary predictor variable was the subject side (cleft vs noncleft side), and the primary outcome variable was the turbinate cross-sectional area. The secondary predictor variables included the site of measurement along the sagittal axis of the turbinate (anterior, middle, posterior) and tissue type (turbinate whole, bone, mucosa). The Wilcoxon signed rank test for paired samples compared the turbinate dimensions on the cleft and noncleft sides, with statistical significance set at P ≤ .05. RESULTS: The sample included 53 patients (32 females and 21 males). The inferior turbinates were measured bilaterally on CT images obtained at a mean age of 12.2 ± 0.8 years. The inferior turbinate on the noncleft side was significantly larger in both bone and mucosa (P = .003). This relationship did not change when controlling for age and gender. CONCLUSIONS: The results of the present study have confirmed bony and mucosal enlargement of the inferior turbinate on the noncleft side in patients with UCLP. This might contribute to bilateral nasal obstruction and should be considered during treatment planning for nasopharyngeal and orthognathic surgery.

Correlation Between the Septal Body and the Nasal Turbinates in Patients With Deviated Nasal Septum.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the degree of deviation and the sizes of nasal turbinates and the septal body (SB) on each side separately and to compare the 2 sides, and to evaluate if there is a correlation between SB size and middle and inferior turbinate (IT) sizes on each side. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A retrospective analysis was made of paranasal computerized tomography scans obtained randomly from the database. Computerized tomography was performed at 120 kVp and 100 mA with 2 mm slice thickness. The study comprised 199 paranasal computerized tomography scans on each of which the width of the SB, the degree of deviation, and the width of the inferior and middle turbinates (MTs) were measured on each side separately. RESULTS: In cases of moderate and severe deviation, the sizes of the SB, the MT, and IT contralateral to the deviation were statistically significantly larger than those on the ipsilateral side (P < 0.001). There was a negative correlation between SB size and the MT and IT sizes in each nasal cavity. CONCLUSIONS: The SB is a dynamic structure and may play a role in regulation of nasal airflow.

The Potential Significance of Concha Bullosa During Nasotracheal Intubation.

The authors experienced a case of severe epistaxis caused by accidental partial middle turbinectomy during nasotracheal intubation, which the patient had bilateral concha bullosa narrowing the nasal airway. Although anesthesiologist checked nasal airway through subjective symptoms and the size of both nostrils, they tend to overlook common anatomic variation, concha bullosa, and can injure turbinate structures. Therefore, preoperative computed tomography images should be carefully evaluated for the possibility of concha bullosa, which narrows nasal airway and induces the traumatic injury or epistaxis during nasotracheal intubation.

Compromised Airway and Atypical Facial Growth in The Adult Patient: A Case Study in the Redirection of Facial Growth.

This case history is an adult patient with a compromised upper airway, soft tissue dysfunction, and atypicalfacial growth. The nasal deviation and enlarged turbinates resulted in mouth-breathing and soft tissue dysfunction. Atypical growth occurs when the biological balance between bone remodeling and positional displacement is disrupted Following septoplasty and turbinate reduction to reestablish nasal respiration and myofunctional therapy to retrain the muscles, the atypical growth was redirected to normal. The final result was an overall improvement in general health, esthetics, and well-being.

GENDER, WEIGHT, AND AGE EFFECTS ON PREVALENCE OF CAUDAL ABERRANT NASAL TURBINATES IN CLINICALLY HEALTHY ENGLISH BULLDOGS: A COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHIC STUDY AND CLASSIFICATION.

English Bulldogs have been reported to demonstrate abnormal growth and development of the nasal turbinates, which contribute to an increase in airway resistance and hence clinical signs of brachycephalic airway syndrome. The purpose of this prospective, cross-sectional study was to assess the prevalence and severity of caudal aberrant turbinate protrusion via CT studies of English Bulldogs with, according to the owners, none or minimal clinical signs of brachycephalic airway syndrome. An additional objective was to propose a classification scheme for describing the degree of caudal aberrant turbinate protrusion in English Bulldogs and to apply this scheme in assessing the effect of gender, weight, and age on prevalence and severity of turbinate protrusion. The nasal cavities of 40 clinically healthy English Bulldogs were examined. The prevalence of caudal aberrant turbinates in this group was 100%. Using our proposed classification scheme, Grade 1 (minimal) was detected in 7 of 40 (17.5%), Grade 2 (mild) in 28 of 40 (70%), and Grade 3 (moderate) in 5 of 40 (12.5%) English Bulldogs. No significant effect of gender, weight, and age on degree of protrusion was found. In conclusion, this study identified minimal to moderate protrusion of caudal aberrant turbinates toward the nasopharynx in all the sampled English Bulldogs, despite the absence of clinical signs of brachycephalic airway syndrome.

Concha Bullosa Mucopyocele: a Case Report.

Concha bullosa (CB) is among the most common anatomic variations of sinonasal anatomy. Although usually asymptomatic, CB can occasionally cause nasal obstruction or headache. Obstructions within the mucociliary transport system can develop into a mucocele or mucopyocele. A 48-year-old female, with a history of progressive headache and nasal obstruction, was referred to our department. Paranasal sinus tomography revealed a nasal mass in the left nasal cavity resembling a mucopyocele in the middle turbinate. Under general anesthesia, the purulent material was aspirated, and the lateral part of the left turbinate was resected. Mucopyoceles are common within the paranasal sinuses, but uncommon with CB; thus, they should be considered in patients with a large hyperemic nasal mass.

Concha bullosa, nasal septal deviation and paranasal sinusitis; a computed tomographic evaluation.

PROBLEMS/OBJECTIVES: Although concha bullosa, nasal septal deviation (NSD) and paranasal sinusitis are apparently three independent entities, some studies suggest that they are interconnected. Computed tomography (CT) is a useful and accurate imaging modality for examining this interconnection. The objective of this study is to use CT imaging to investigate the possible association between concha bullosa, NSD and paranasal sinusitis. METHODOLOGY: We reviewed 206 nasal and paranasal CT images of individuals with sinonasal symptoms/cosmetic issues and investigated the association between the presence of concha bullosa and NSD with paranasal sinusitis. RESULTS: There was no significant relation between the presence of concha bullosa and paranasal sinusitis. The mean NSD was significantly higher in the cases with frontal, maxillary, ethmoid and sphenoid sinusitis than in unaffected subjects. Similar findings were found in the patients with any involved paranasal sinus and the controls (6.49 +/- 3.060 vs. 3.31 +/- 1.99 degrees; p<0.001). An NSD > or =3.5% differentiated between the presence and absence of paranasal sinusitis, with a sensitivity and specificity of 77.8% and 76.5%, respectively. A significant positive correlation was found between NSD and the number of involved sinuses (Pearson's r=0.58, p<0.001). The laterality of sinusitis was not associated with NSD or concha bullosa. CONCLUSIONS: Nasal septal deviation, but possibly not concha bullosa, is associated with paranasal sinusitis and its extent. An NSD > or = 3.5 degrees is a useful predictor of paranasal sinusitis.

Pneumo-concha dilatans: middle concha growing in anterior and lateral directions.

Aeration of the concha is called concha bullosa regardless of the amount and location of the aeration. Middle concha pneumatization is very frequent, and its incidence rate according to the literature is between 14% and 53.6%. Various types of middle concha such as pneumatized, paradoxical, bifurcate, trifurcate, secondary, and accessory have been defined; however, the most frequently observed variation is the pneumatization of the middle concha. In our case, a male patient presented to our clinic with complaints about difficulty breathing through the nose and decrease in the olfaction. The endoscopic examination showed that his right middle concha had grown enough to extend toward the front of the lower concha, and the left middle and lower meatuses were infested by polyps. The paranasal computed tomographic scan of the patient showed that the left middle concha had maxillary sinus invasion at an amount that was enough to fill 25% of the maxillary sinus. In this case presentation, the middle concha pneumatization presenting with maxillary sinus invasion, which we believe is the first case in the literature, is presented as accompanied by the literature.

[Microdebrider-assisted inferior turbinoplasty. Minimally invasive technique for the treatment of nasal airway obstruction caused by enlarged turbinates]. / Shaver-turbinoplastik. Minimalinvasives verfahren zur therapie der behinderten nasenatmung bei vergrösserten nasenmuscheln.

BACKGROUND: Various methods are available for the surgical treatment of nasal airway obstruction caused by enlarged turbinates. These methods include partial turbinectomy, submucosal electrocautery, radiofrequency surgery, and laser turbinoplasty, all of which can have adverse effects such as defects of the mucous lining of the turbinates, prolonged postoperative healing, and bleeding. The purpose of this study was to analyse the effectiveness and potential adverse effects of microdebrider-assisted inferior turbinoplasty (MAIT), which is a less commonly used treatment option. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In a prospective randomized study, 35 patients underwent microdebrider-assisted inferior turbinoplasty. Two control groups (35 patients each) underwent conventional partial turbinectomy or submucosal electrocautery. Endoscopic and functional studies (active anterior rhinomanometry, saccharin test) were performed before surgery and 2, 4, and 24 weeks after surgery. Pain and other postoperative problems were assessed using analogue scales. RESULTS: After 2 weeks, MAIT patients, unlike the other patients, showed almost no more mucosal lesions. After 4 weeks, mean saccharin clearance time was 11.1 min in the MAIT group, 15.9 min in the partial turbinectomy group, and 13.7 min in the electrocautery group. When the patients were asked to rate their symptoms on a scale of 0-10, the mean score in the fourth postoperative week was 6.1 in the MAIT group, 7.7 in the partial turbinectomy group, and 7.8 in the electrocautery group. Rhinomanometry showed a mean flow rate increase from 178 ml/s to 574 ml/s after MAIT (401 ml/s after partial turbinectomy, 361 ml/s after electrocautery). CONCLUSION: Microdebrider-assisted inferior turbinoplasty is a minimally invasive method for reducing inferior turbinate size and maintaining mucosal integrity. It has the advantages of a short healing time, only a mild decrease in mucociliary clearance, only minor postoperative problems, and a good functional outcome.

There is no structural relationship between nasal septal deviation, concha bullosa, and paranasal sinus fungus balls.

This study aims to determine the relationship between nasal septal deviation, concha bullosa, and chronic rhinosinusitis by using a definitive pathological and simplified model. Fifty-two consecutive sinus computed tomography scans were performed on patients who received endoscopic sinus surgery and whose final diagnosis was paranasal sinus fungus balls. The incidences of nasal septal deviation and concha bullosa for patients diagnosed with paranasal sinus fungus balls among the study group were 42.3% and 25%, respectively. About 63.6% sinuses with fungus balls were located on the ipsilateral side of the nasal septal deviation, and 46.2% were located on the ipsilateral side of the concha bullosa. When examined by Pearson's chi-square test and the chi-squared goodness-of-fit test, no significant statistical difference for the presence of paranasal sinus fungus balls between ipsilateral and contralateral sides of nasal septal deviation and concha bullosa was noted (P = 0.292 and P = 0.593, resp.). In conclusion, we could not demonstrate any statistically significant correlation between the location of infected paranasal sinus, the direction of nasal septal deviation, and the location of concha bullosa, in location-limited rhinosinusitis lesions such as paranasal sinus fungal balls. We conclude that the anatomical variants discussed herein do not predispose patients to rhinosinusitis.

Anatomical variations of the lateral nasal wall: The secondary and accessory middle turbinates.

The aim of the current anatomical and clinical study was to audit our cases of patients who presented with secondary and/or accessory middle turbinates during a two-year period. We investigated the incidence and the clinical impact of these variations. Twenty-eight patients, 19 males and 9 females with a mean age of 41.5 years, representing different ethnic origins, were diagnosed with double middle turbinates based on endoscopic examination. Of those, 92.8% had a main symptom of refractory frontal headache. A secondary nasal symptom was sensation of blocked nose. Patients who underwent endoscopic surgery (n = 13) for reduction of the extra turbinate, reported significant symptom scores improvement (P < 0.0001) of frontal headache and blocked nose, from means of 9.07 ± 0.26 and 8.57 ± 1.39 to 1 ± 0.31, and 1.42 ± 0.35, respectively. Our results indicate that double middle turbinates may be encountered in rhinology practice (2%). Clinically they may present with refractory headache and blocked nose. Endoscopic surgical approach seems to be an effective way of improving the symptoms.

[The atypical course of subperiosteal abscess of the orbital wall].

The authors describe a clinical case of malformation of intranasal structures of the lateral wall and the middle turbinated bone of the nose (bullous middle turbinated bone, lateral position of the middle turbinated bone, hypertrophy of ethmoidal bulla and uncinate process) in combination with expressed deformation of the nasal septum. These malformations were responsible for the development of acute hemisinusitis complicated by subperiosteal abscess of the superomedial orbital wall. Conjunctival chemosis was impossible to remove by traditional medicamental therapy and surgical intervention. Hirudotherapy produced the well-apparent anti-odematous, anti-inflammatory, anti-coagulative, and thrombolytic effects that resulted in reduced conjunctival oedema and marked positive dynamics of the state of the eyeball. Subcutaneous administration of anticoagulants was used to prevent thrombosis of orbital veins and cerebral venous sinuses.

Rhinologic evaluation in patients with primary headache.

OBJECTIVES: In subjects with primary headaches, rhinologic pathologic condition may be associated with treatment refractoriness. In some cases, surgical correction of intranasal pathologic condition may decrease medication use. We aimed to evaluate the benefits of a rhinologic perspective in primary headache subjects by using neurologic management. METHODS: Subjects with primary headache were examined by a neurologist and otolaryngologist. Initially, neurologic assessment was made, and medication was started. Migraine symptoms and pain severity were recorded using the Migraine Disability Assessment Scale and a 0 to 10 visual analog scale (VAS). Subject's pain severity of tension type headache was evaluated by VAS. Direct otorhinolaryngologic history of all primary headache subjects was taken, and they all underwent physical examination, rigid nasal endoscopy, sinus computed tomography, and mucosal contact point test. All examination and radiologic findings were noted. Subjects were separated into groups after 1-month medical neurologic management. RESULTS: One hundred nine subjects were enrolled. Ninety-nine subjects completed follow-up. Seventy-eight percent of the subjects were women. The mean age was 33.6 years (range, 18-63 y). Twenty-six subjects had no significant intranasal pathologic condition (group 1). Twenty subjects had an intranasal pathologic condition but responded to the neurologic treatment (group 2). Fifty-three subjects had an intranasal pathologic condition, and the neurologic treatment failed for these 53 subjects. Surgical intervention was planned for these 53 subjects (group 3). Thirty-eight subjects accepted the operation (group 3a), and 15 subjects refused the surgical intervention (group 3b). All subject's Migraine Disability Assessment Scale and VAS scores were compared. A total of 73 subjects had rhinologic abnormalities. Groups 1 and 2 benefited from the neurologic treatment, but headache severity of group 3a reduced after rhinologic surgery. Group 3b who rejected surgical intervention did not respond to the neurologic treatment. CONCLUSIONS: This study describes a series of subjects presenting with various primary headaches who also have underlying rhinologic abnormalities. Surgical treatment of the underlying rhinologic pathologic abnormalities had a beneficial effect on headache.

A rare case of proboscis lateralis with median cleft lip.

A very rare case of proboscis lateralis is reported. This case is different from previously reported cases due to proboscis lateralis, single nostril, loss of columella, and median cleft lip without holoprosencephaly. In addition, this is considered the first surviving individual with proboscis lateralis accompanied by median cleft lip.

[Pneumatization (concha bullosa) of the inferior turbinate: cas report and literature review]. / Pneumatisation (concha bullosa) du cornet inférieur : à propos d'un cas et revue de la littérature.

OBJECTIVE: We report a case of concha bullosa of the inferior turbinate. MATERIAL AND METHOD: A 58 year-old man, consulted for a per annual bilateral nasal obstruction with normal endoscopic examination. RESULT: The CT scan (sagittal and axial sections) of the face had shown a concha bullosa of the inferior turbinate. CONCLUSION: The concha bullosa of inferior turbinate is uncommon entity and may be to reconnize after chronic nasal or sinusal dysfunction. The concha bullosa can be united or bilateral, isolated or combined with other turbinates anomalies. This unusual pathology deserves to be reported. We found 25 cases published in the literature. A discussion around this entity is made after reporting this observation.

[Certain peculiarities of rhinoseptoplasty in children].

This paper reports the results of examination and treatment of children presenting with deviation of the nasal septum. All of them underwent septoplasty simultaneous with rhinoplasty, vasotomy of inferior nasal concha, and correction of bullous middle nasal concha (if indicated). It is recommended that the data obtained be taken into consideration during rhinoseptoplastic surgey in children.