THE EFFECT OF NASAL SEPTUM DEVIATION TO THE MUCOSAL THICKNESS OF MAXILLARY SINUS IN PATIENTS WITH CLEFT LIP AND PALATE

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate the prevalence and effect of nasal septum deviation on mucosal thickness of the maxillary sinus in 76 patients with unilateral and bilateral cleft lip and palate who received treatment at Tawanchai Cleft Center between 2017 and 2022, aged 8-21 years (mean age: 11.43 ± 3.73 years). Nasal septum deviation was measured in terms of maximum deviation distance and classified the nasal septum deviation according to Meladina's classification on cone-beam computed tomography images. Additionally, mucosal thickness of maxillary sinus that greater than 3 millimeters were measured. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the prevalence of nasal septum deviation and mucosal thickness of the maxillary sinus. The relationship between nasal septum deviation and mucosal thickness of maxillary sinus was analyzed using the Chi-square test and Fisher's exact tests (95% confidence interval). The results showed that: 1) 97.37% of the prevalence of nasal septum deviation which had no significantly associated with gender, age, or types of cleft lip and palate. 2) The mucosal thickness of maxillary sinus was greater in males than females (male: 75%, female: 39.95%). 3) There was no significant relationship between nasal septum deviation and mucosal thickness of the maxillary sinus. However, mucosal thickness of the maxillary sinus tended to increase in severe case of nasal septum deviation. The result illustrated the nasal septum deviated towards the no defect side of the patients with unilateral cleft lip and palate.