IADR Abstract Archives
Are Nasal Spurs Associated with Obstructive Sleep Apnea?
Objectives: The purpose of this study is to determine if nasal spurs are associated with a high risk for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).
Methods: 282 previously recorded CBCTs met inclusion criteria and were examined for nasal septal deviations (NSD) and nasal spurs. Once a NSD was identified, it was categorized into mild (<9°), moderate (10-15°) or severe (>15°) based on the degree of angulation. The patient’s STOP-BANG score was then analyzed to determine the patient’s risk for OSA.
Results: Of the 282 patients who were included in the study, 41% of the patients had a deviation or a nasal spur. Specifically, 24% of individuals had a deviation without a spur while 17% of patients had a bone spur. Most cases of deviations without the presence of a spur were moderate deviations (9-15o). If a spur was associated with the deviation majority of the deviations were severe (>15o). Out of the 282 patients who were included in the study, only 89% filled out enough information on their health history form to calculate their STOP-BANG score. Of this 89%, 17% of patients were considered high risk according to their score.
Conclusions: Given the increased awareness of obstructive sleep apnea, nasal spurs and nasal septal deviations may be considered a risk factor in the near future. Deviations and spurs occurred almost equally on the left and right. Majority of deviations without a spur were 9-15o; If a spur and deviation were present, the angulation was more likely to be >15o. Only 17% of the patients were considered high risk for OSA and only 34% of them had either a deviation or a spur. More research is needed in this area to determine if nasal spurs or deviations are associated with OSA.
Methods: 282 previously recorded CBCTs met inclusion criteria and were examined for nasal septal deviations (NSD) and nasal spurs. Once a NSD was identified, it was categorized into mild (<9°), moderate (10-15°) or severe (>15°) based on the degree of angulation. The patient’s STOP-BANG score was then analyzed to determine the patient’s risk for OSA.
Results: Of the 282 patients who were included in the study, 41% of the patients had a deviation or a nasal spur. Specifically, 24% of individuals had a deviation without a spur while 17% of patients had a bone spur. Most cases of deviations without the presence of a spur were moderate deviations (9-15o). If a spur was associated with the deviation majority of the deviations were severe (>15o). Out of the 282 patients who were included in the study, only 89% filled out enough information on their health history form to calculate their STOP-BANG score. Of this 89%, 17% of patients were considered high risk according to their score.
Conclusions: Given the increased awareness of obstructive sleep apnea, nasal spurs and nasal septal deviations may be considered a risk factor in the near future. Deviations and spurs occurred almost equally on the left and right. Majority of deviations without a spur were 9-15o; If a spur and deviation were present, the angulation was more likely to be >15o. Only 17% of the patients were considered high risk for OSA and only 34% of them had either a deviation or a spur. More research is needed in this area to determine if nasal spurs or deviations are associated with OSA.