Introduction:
A reduced trigeminal sensitivity leads to subjective impression of decreased nasal airflow. A septoplasty is often performed in patients with nasal obstruction but there are many cases were patients do not have a benefit after surgery. In these patients the trigeminal sensitivity could be reduced, and could cause the subjective impression of decreased nasal airflow, next to obstructive effect of anatomical changes in the nasal cavity. This was shown in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). The aim of the study was to investigate the trigeminal sensitivity in patients with nasal obstruction before septoplasty compared to healthy subjects without breathing problems.
Methods:
31 healthy subjects and 33 patients before septoplasty were investigated. The trigeminal sensitivity was measured at three different locations within the nose: septum, lower turbinate, middle turbinate using electrical stimuli. Electrical stimuli were applied through a spherical electrode with increasing stimulus intensity.
Results:
No significant differences of trigeminal sensitivity were found at the nasal septum and lower turbinate in patients and healthy subjects. Patients were more sensitive at the middle turbinate (p = 0,017) but these differences could not be shown at other locations.
Conclusions:
No reduced trigeminal sensitivity could be found in patients who get surgery because of subjective impression of decreased nasal airflow compared to healthy subjects. One reason for that can be the used method of electrical stimuli. Also it can be assumed that in patients without nasal inflammation, different than in patients with CRS, the trigeminal sensitivity is not or only barely reduced. For detailed information further studies are necessary.
