[First findings about the nasal airflow in noses with septal perforation].

BACKGROUND: A nasal septum perforation often leads to considerable complaints like nasal obstruction, crusting, epistaxis or whistling. Up to now there is no certain knowledge about the airflow pattern in noses with septal perforations.

METHOD: We performed fluid dynamic experiments on functional nasal models (so-called modified Mink boxes). We investigated the flow pattern in models with septal perforations, different in size and location and in combination with and without septal deviations.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: We have found no essential influence of the location of perforation on the airflow pattern. With increasing size of perforation the streamlines bump toward the posterior border of the perforation, causing turbulence. The whistling during inspiration is based on the principle of a lip whistle. The required flow velocity for vibration of the air depends on the dimension of the perforation. For large perforations it is impossible to get the required high flow velocity to cause a whistle.