Nasal septum deviation after rapid maxillary expansion in the early mixed dentition

To evaluate nasal septum changes after rapid maxillary expansion (RME) during the mixed dentition and to verify the association between quantitative and qualitative assessments of nasal septum deviation (NSD) by ear, nose, and throat (ENT) specialists.

The sample comprised 24 patients (11 male, 13 female) with a mean age of 7.62 ± 0.92 years with maxillary transverse deficiencies. Cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) images were obtained before and after RME. Three CBCT coronal sections passing through the maxillary first molars, 5 mm anterior and 5 mm posterior, were used for quantitative assessment. NSD was calculated using the ratio of nasal cavity height to nasal septum contour. Additionally, five ENT professionals evaluated NSD qualitatively using scores from 1 to 3 through CBCT sequential axial and coronal sections. Absent NSD was scored as zero. Interstage changes were assessed using Wilcoxon tests. Spearman correlation and linear regression were performed to evaluate the association between quantitative and qualitative analyses (P < .05).

No significant change was observed in the NSD ratio. In pre-expansion CBCT images, absence of NSD and scores 1, 2, and 3 for NSD were found for 45.8%, 41.7%, 12.5%, and 0%, respectively. In the qualitative assessment, no significant change in NSD was observed after expansion. A strong association was found between NSD ratio and ENT score (r = 0.750).

In the mixed dentition, no significant change was observed in the NSD ratio. Qualitative analysis of NSD was associated with quantitative assessment of the ratio between nasal septum contour and nasal cavity height.