An extensive study titled “ Development and the clinical aspect of the nasal septal deformity” was reported by Dr. Takahashi at the Annual Meeting of Japan Otorhinolaryngological Society in September 1954.
The present study is a further observation of the intranasal findings and the morphological changes of the nasal septum in the same population of school children.
Observations were made longitudinally on the population in two different groups of school children, one in a rural area and the other in an urban area Tokyo.
Observation periods extended from 1930 to 1965 in the urban area and from 1953 to 1961 in the rural area.
The total number of school children studied amounted 12, 740 urban and rural study combined.
Changes in shape and extent of the septal deviation according to an increase in age were characterized by a decrease in number of simple septal deviation and also in simple spina and by an increase in complicated deviation or complicated spina.
The observation concerning the type of septal deviation revealed a decrease in C-type curvature and an increase in the superior septal deviation with increase in age.
The deformity of the nasal septum appeared to be more extensive in the elder age groups.
A statistical study correlating the development of the septal deviation and the general systemic growth which were represented by body weight, body length and circumference of chest revealed a significant positive relation between the two.
This would indicate that the development and the extension of the septal deviation are closely related with the systemic growth and that major deformity of the septum frequently occur in adolescence.
Spontaneous reverse of the direction of septal curvature was seen in 55 cases among 245 cases observed for consecutive 11 to 13 years. Such reverse of the deviation was exclusively observed during adolescent period and took several years before the completion.
The septal deviation or deformity in progress among adolescent subjects did not produce any significant discomfort or complaints on the side of the subjects as studied by collecting questionnaires.
In summary, the author presented further and detail information on the natural development of the septal deviation based upon the extensive data obtained during the 13-year period.