Examination versus subjective nasal obstruction in the evaluation of the nasal septal deviation

Background: Nasal septal deviation (NSD) is a frequent complaint among patients in an otolaryngology clinic. The prevalence of NSD varies in different populations and NSD classification schemes are complex. Methods: We aimed to determine the prevalence of NSD in a population of Turkish young males using a new NSD classification method that we developed. We compared the results with patients' complaints. All patients underwent two nasal examinations, which were performed using a nasal speculum with and without administration of vasoconstrictor agents. Inferior Concha Hypertrophy (ICH) was evaluated in the first examination and NSDs were scored during the second examination. All findings were recorded according to our classification scheme. Severity of nasal obstruction was subjectively evaluated by using a visual analogue scale (VAS). Results: We found a significant association between prevalence of NSD and nasal injuries, but there was no association between the mode of delivery and prevalence of NSD. Surprisingly, about 30 % of the participants with NSD had no complaint of nasal obstruction. Although most of the participants in the study had no severe nasal obstruction complaint, we found an association between NSD presence and patient's VAS. Conclusion: NSD is very frequent in the Turkish population and most often related to trauma; however, its effect on patient quality of life varies.