Introduction

The objective of this study was to determine the frequency of intranasal and nasopharyngeal disorders in patients with maxillary constriction and vertical facial growth.

Study design

Twenty nine patients were selected of the accepted patients for orthodontic treatment at the Hospital Infantil de México; the age was from 8 to 16 years old (mean age 12.03). The maxillary constriction was measured with Pont-Korkhaus analysis, comparing ideal measurements with real measurements of the study models. At least three of four cefalometric values (SN-Occlusal plane, SN-Mandibular plane, Frankfort plane-Mandibular plane, Lower facial height) were evaluated to determine the facial vertical growth. A nasoendoscopy was carried out in the selected patients, being this procedure the gold standard of the diagnosis for intranasal and nasopharyngeal alterations.

Results

The proportion of alterations in the patients was 24.01% with no alterations, 10.3% septal deviation, 10.3% adenoidal hypertrophy and mucosal hypertrophy, 20.7% septal deviation and nasal mucosal hypertrophy, 24.1% nasal mucosal hypertrophy only, 6.9% adenoid hypertrophy and 3.4% with the three alterations. There was no association between gender and the presence of these alterations.

Conclusions

When vertical facial growth associated with maxillary constriction is presented, it is necessary to refer the patient with the medical specialist. The most frequent alteration was nasal mucosal hypertrophy and the less was adenoid hypertrophy. Combined alterations were present in 34.4% of the group.