The Effect of Vibrissae on Subjective and Objective Measures of Nasal Obstruction

Abstract

Background Nasal congestion and/or obstruction represents a prevalent and extensively studied problem. No published research exists that describes the impact of nasal hair (vibrissae) on nasal obstruction. Objective To assess the impact of nasal vibrissae on subjective and objective measurements of nasal obstruction. Methods In this prospective study, 30 healthy participants without nasal symptoms were assessed for baseline vibrissae density and were treated with a topical decongestant. The subjects were then asked to subjectively assess nasal breathing by using four questions from the Nasal Obstruction Symptom Evaluation instrument before undergoing rhinomanometry. Nasal vibrissae were then trimmed, and the participants repeated the subjective and objective assessments. Pre- and postintervention outcomes, including symptom scores, nasal airflow, and resistance, were compared by using statistical analysis. Results Statistically significant improvement was noted in subjects’ nasal airway specific symptom scores and in objective measurements of their nasal airway. Patients with moderate or many vibrissae at baseline were noted to have greater likelihood of improvement in subjective and objective obstruction assessments than patients rated with few. Conclusion In these 30 subjects, statistically significant improvement occurred in both subjective and objective assessments of nasal obstruction, particularly in patients with greater density of vibrissae. These findings support further study of the potential benefit of the reduction of vibrissae density in some patients with nasal obstruction.