Objective: Nasal septum perforation (NSP) is defined as a communication between the nasal passages due to a full layer defect of the septum. The condition has a broad spectrum of potential symptoms, such as scabbing inside the nose, dryness, epistaxis, and breathing difficulty. The aim of this study was to evaluate the symptomatology of NSP and the relationship between the subcomponents of the Nasal Obstruction Symptom Evaluation (NOSE) scale assessment of quality of life and the size and localization of NSP.
Materials and Methods: This prospective study included patients who presented at the otolaryngology policlinics of 2 hospitals and were diagnosed with NSP. The NSPs were grouped according to the length of the long axis, that is, small: 1–10 mm, medium: 11–20 mm, or large: 21–30 mm, and the localization was categorized as anterior, middle, or posterior. A Turkish version of the NOSE scale has been validated as a reliable tool.
Results: A total of 61 patients, 31 (50.8%) females and 30 (49.2%) males, were evaluated. The mean NOSE score was 59.50±20.58. No significant difference was seen in the NOSE score based on the size of the perforation; however analysis of variance revealed a significant difference according to the localization of the perforation in the scale items of NOSE-2 (p=0.007), NOSE-3 (p=0.048), NOSE-4 (p=0.011), and the total NOSE score (p=0.015) (p<0.05).
Conclusion: The results of the NOSE scale analysis indicated that the NSP patients experienced a high level of symptoms, regardless the size and localization of the perforation. The NOSE scale is easy to administer and provides useful information, particularly when the subcomponents are evaluated.