Optimizing topical nasal steroid application in adenoid hypertrophy: A computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis.

Area of Science:

• Otolaryngology
• Pediatric Respiratory Medicine
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Intranasal steroids are a key treatment for pediatric adenoid hypertrophy.
• Optimal application techniques for maximizing drug delivery to adenoids are not well-established.
• Existing guidelines are generalized from other nasal conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the optimal nasal spray technique for maximizing drug deposition in the adenoid region.
• To address the research gap in understanding technique variations for adenoid hypertrophy treatment.

Main Methods:

• Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) analysis with discrete phase modeling.
• Simulation of nasal spray delivery within the nasal cavity and to the adenoid region.
• Validation of simulation findings using a 3D CT-based model.

Main Results:

• Maximum spray deposition in the adenoid region was achieved with an injection angle of 30°.
• Optimal concentration for deposition was observed at 14 kg/m³.

Conclusions:

• A 30° nozzle inclination relative to the nasal floor ensures maximal drug delivery to adenoids.
• This optimized technique is likely to improve the efficacy of intranasal steroid treatment for adenoid hypertrophy.
• Findings provide evidence-based guidance for nasal steroid application in pediatric adenoid hypertrophy.