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Objective: There has been little research into inherited septal deformities. While, Pejić carried out a study some 50 years ago, and Grymer more recently suggested that some posterior septal deformities could be inherited, both studies lack a precise definition of the types of septal deformities which were investigated. The aim of this paper is to investigate the hypothetic influence of heredity on the onset of particular types of septal deformities. The authors investigated a very particular and well defined type of septal deformity: type 6 after Mladina's classification., Methods: The authors studied a group of 22 children among 779 children aged 7-14, selected at random, suffering from type 6 septal deformity and their 44 parents. They were examined by means of anterior rhinoscopy by two the same ENT specialists in rhinology. The control group consisted of 24 children with a straight nasal septum of the same age and sex distribution and their 48 parents. The results were compared using Fisher's exact probability test., Results: In the studied group type 6 septal deformity was found in 21 out of 22 both fathers and mothers of these children. Type 6 was not found in any of 48 parents of children with no septal deformity., Conclusions: There is a high positive correlation between the appearance of type 6 septal deformities in both mothers and fathers of children with this type of deformity. The high correlation in the incidence of type 6 nasal deformity in mothers and their children and in fathers and their children suggests that this type of nasal deformity is inherited. Most authors hold that only posterior septal deformities result from inheritance factors, while anterior deformities result from environmental factors, that is, from injury to the nose and the central massif of the face. However, our study of type 6 deformities shows that certain types of anterior deformities can be inherited.

Objective: Numerous epidemiologic studies on the prevalence of nasal septum deformities in children have been performed over the last three decades. As these studies were performed in children of various age groups and used different classifications of septal deformities (without detailed morphologic systematization), it is no surprise that the results differ greatly from study to study. The purpose of the study was to evaluate clinical data on the total prevalence of nasal septum deformities and particular types of deformity in children and adolescents., Methods: The study population consisted of 1797 randomly selected subjects divided into pre-school (aged 2-6), primary school (aged 7-14), secondary school (aged 15-18) and university (aged 19-22) groups. The native state was determined by means of anterior rhinoscopy without previous application of vasoconstrictive drugs. The observed pathologic septal deformities were classified into seven types according to Mladina's classification. A straight septum was designated as S. The prevalence of septum deformities in the population was calculated with 95% probability. Differences with respect to sex and types of deformity were tested by chi(2)-test., Results: The prevalence of nasal septum deformities according to age groups was 28.0% in the 2-6 group, 21.1% in the 7-14 group, 40.6% in the 15--18 group and 41.8% in the 19-22 group. The distribution of the seven types of septal deformity was 51.1, 23.5, 5, 0.8, 10.0, 9.0 and 0.6%, respectively. The mean values (%) and 95% confidence intervals for the seven types of septal deformity were 14.7 (13.1-16.4%), 6.8 (5.6-7.9%), 1.4 (0.9-1.9%), 0.2 (0.0-0.4%), 2.9 (2.1-3.7%), 2.6 (1.9-3.4%) and 0.2 (0.0-0.4%), respectively. Total distribution in gender showed no difference (P = 0.102)., Conclusions: In the youngest age group (2-6 years), types 1 and 2 (deformities of anterior septal segments) were exclusively found, whereas types 5 and 6 were found in older age groups (become visible during and after the puberty). Types 1 and 2 are characteristic septal deformities for small children. Since, septal deformities can affect the growth and development of the maxilla and vice versa, the authors recommend examination of the nasal septum by an rhinologist who will be a part of a team performing the regular systematic health examination of children.

Surgeons and orthodontists are still challenged to achieve 'better' noses for children with a unilateral cleft or lip, alveoulus and palate (UCLP). Various aspects are discussed: infant anatomy and later changes, developmental mechanics, cleft syndrome in animals with surgically produced facial clefts, untreated patients with congenital clefts, the radical primary correction of the UCLP nose, the unsolved problems in secondary rhinoplasty and suggestions for scientific communication.