Prevalence of septal deviations in school-aged children.

A total of 687 school children, aged 6-15 years, were examined for nasal septal deviations with anterior rhinoscopy and maxillary sinus radiography. Septum deviations were divided into four different categories and the final evaluation included the clinically significant deviation, based on purely morphological findings. Columella deviation was an exceptional condition in 0.7% of children, septum spurs were found in 3.8%, bending of the quadrilateral cartilage was present in 13.4%, and premaxillary luxation in 28.7%. A clinical diagnosis of septum deviation was made in 9.5% of children. The occipitomental projection of the maxillary sinus X-ray was a good diagnostic tool in evaluating the clinical significance of septum deviation.