Abstract
Objectives: In this study we aimed to investigate the
prevalence of abnormal nasality in patients with unilateral
rhinosinusitis and their nasality outcomes following functional
endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS).
Design, Setting, Participants: A total of 42 patients with
unilateral chronic rhinosinusitis who underwent unilateral FESS between
April 2016 and November 2017 were enrolled. The patients were divided
into two groups, wide opening surgery and limited surgery, according to
the severity of the disease. Questionnaires on sinonasal symptoms and
nasality were recorded.
Main outcome measures: The change in the nasalance score and
symptoms were measured preoperatively, 6 months, and 12 months after the
operation.
Results: Among 42 patients, the subjective reports showed that
one-third of unilateral chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) patients had
abnormal nasality preoperatively and significant improvement following
FESS. The Lund-Mackay score was significantly negatively correlated with
preoperative nasalance of [i] and positively correlated with change
of nasalance of [i]. The increase in the value of [i] is
statistically significant (p=0.01) following FESS. In the wide opening
surgery group, the change in nasalance was significant, but not in the
limited surgery group.
Conclusion: Although only one side of the nasal airway was
involved, one-third of the patients reported abnormal nasality. In
patients with more disease severity who underwent wide opening surgery,
the nasalance significantly increased 1 year after FESS. The increase in
the nasalance score may represent a return to a normal status since the
self-reported nasality assessment was significantly improved
postoperatively.
Key Words: chronic rhinosinusitis; nasality; sinus
surgery; nasalance, voice