role of acoustic rhinometry in septoplasty

ABSTRACT

Acoustic rhinometry is a technique presenting a shock wave to the nasal airway and then measuring the reflected sound, a profile of the tross sectional area through each side of the nose may be obtained. A group of 16 patients with recent traumatic septal deviation were examined by acoustic rhinometry before and after septoplasty. The results of these patients were compared with control normal subjects. All of patient group showed an objective improvement in the nasal functions after surgery appeared in the measurements of the acoustic rhinometry including the nasal resistance, nasal volume and the minimum cross sectional area. Also the effect of nasal decongested drops on the nasal functions was evaluated in comparison to septoplasty and the results showed that nasal drops effects may be taken as an indicator for the expected success of septoplasty