HEADACHES ASSOCIATED WITH NASAL OBSTRUCTION DUE TO DEVIATED NASAL-SEPTUM

A deviated nasal septum not only can cause a blocked nose, but may als o be associated with headaches. This study evaluates the nature of the se headaches, the effect of submucous resection of the nasal septum, a nd the factors associated with postoperative headache relief. Deviated nasal septa were corrected by submucous resection in 99 men and 17 wo men. Patients were studied at 4 to 48 months (mean 18 months) postoper atively. Fifty-five of the 116 patients studied (47.4%) had preoperati ve recurring headaches. Thirty-five of the 55 patients with headaches (63.6%) experienced relief (complete or partial) of their headaches at a mean follow-up period of 18 months. Patients were more likely to be relieved of their headaches following submucous resection if the head aches were most intense over the frontal region, pressure-like in natu re, and if the submucous resection resulted in relief of nasal obstruc tion. It is possible that headaches recur in the long term, and it is postulated that central mechanisms play a role.