The nasal septum and the development of the midface. A longitudinal study of a pair of monozygotic twins.

The development of the nose and the growth of the midface has been followed in a pair of identical twins. One of them (twin A) had nasal septum destruction after septal haematoma and abscess at the age of 7 years, and was treated by immediate implantation of homologous septal cartilage from a tissue bank. From 7-17 years of age the growth and development of the nose and face were followed. Lateral cephalograms, photographs, acoustic rhinometry and rhinoscopy were performed. Twin B presented a normal nasal and facial growth and served as control. Twin A developed a saddle nose, an upward displacement of the anterior part of the maxilla, diminished vertical development of the nasal cavity, and a retrognathically positioned maxilla due to decreased anteroposterior maxillary growth. This case report seems to indicate that the cartilaginous nasal septum is an important factor influencing vertical and sagittal growth of the maxilla.