Recurrent epistaxis and nasal septal deviation in young adults

Epistaxis is common in young adults but the aetiology is unknown in many cases. To investigate the possibility that septal deviations are associated with epistaxis, 54 servicemen with recurrent epistaxis were compared with 46 controls. The epistaxis group were significantly more likely to have a history of nasal trauma (P = 0.008) and radiologically-proven nasal fracture (P = 0.002); on clinical examination, they were more likely to have a deviated septum (P < 0.00001), maxillary spur (P = 0.00004) and nasal obstruction (P = 0.011); they were also more likely to have radiological evidence of a deviated septum (P = 0.020). Those patients able to locate their epistaxis to one side tended to do so to the side of their septal deviation. This study supports the hypothesis that septal deviation is associated with epistaxis.