Nasal septum deviation and Eustachian tube function: A prospective case-control study based on tympanometry, tubomanometry, and ETDQ-7.

Introduction: The influence of isolated nasal septum deviation (NSD) in the Eustachian Tube (ET) function is still undetermined.

Objective: compare ET function between patients with severe NSD and patients with adequate nasal patency in terms of symptomology and objective exams and assess the impact of septoplasty in ET function in patients with severe NSD. METHODS AND METHODOLOGY: a prospective study was conducted. In the first phase of the study, two opportunistic samples were selected: 35 patients with severe NSD for group A and 35 patients with adequate nasal patency for group B. Both groups were evaluated through Nasal obstruction Subjective Questionnaire (NOSE) and ET dysfunction questionnaire 7 (ETDQ7) -, and through two objective exams to assess ET function - tympanometry, and tubomanometry (TMM); results were compared between group A and B. In the second phase of the study, the patients from group A underwent septoplasty and were re-evaluated through ETDQ7, tympanometry and TMM; results were compared before and after surgery.

Results: we found a statistically significant difference between patients with NSD and patients with adequate nasal patency in NOSE and ETDQ7 (higher scores in the latter), and TMM (worse results in patients with NSD); the difference in tympanometry was not statistically significant. The side of the NSD did not correlate with the side of the dysfunction. After septoplasty, patients from group A had statistically significant lower scores in ETDQ7 and a lower proportion of patients with findings compatible with ET dysfunction using TMM.

Conclusion: according to our results, severe NSD alone is a cause of ET dysfunction; septal surgery might improve ET function in these patients.