Evaluation of nasal obstruction in children by acoustic rhinometry: A prospective study

acoustic rhinometry (AR) is a non-invasive method measuring the nasal volume (NV) and the nasal minimal cross-sectional area (MCA), reflecting nasal obstruction. The first objective of this study was to measure and compare NV and MCA between 3 groups of children: "achondroplasia", "Down syndrome" and "control". The control group corresponded to children with suspicion of sleep disorder disease and without cranio-facial malformation. The second objective was to correlate AR measurements with the obstructive apnea-hypopnea index (OAHI).

prospective study between February and July 2017, in a tertiary care center. The following data were collected: demographic characteristics, medical and surgical history, NV, MCA, and OAHI.

83 children were included. The mean NV was lower in achondroplasia group compared to control group: 2.75 cm3 vs 3.60 cm3 (p = 0.02, 95% CI [0.0694, 0.7456]). Negative correlation was found between the NV and the OAHI for children with achondroplasia (T = -0.37; p = 0.02).

AR is an effective tool for assessing nasal obstruction in children. Nasal obstruction was correlated to OAHI in achondroplasia. AR could become a routine tool in the management of nasal obstruction of children with cranio-facial malformations.