Evaluation of the Relationship Between SNOT-22 Test Results and Topographic Course of the Infraorbital Nerve in Patients with Chronic Rhinosinusitis

Objective: We aimed to evaluate whether course variations of the infraorbital nerve (ION) in chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) patients cause differences in the quality of life of patients using the Sino-Nasal Outcome Test-22 (SNOT-22). Methods: Patients who applied to the otolaryngology clinic and were diagnosed with CRS were included in the study. Infraorbital nerve variations were defined as follows: type 1; the nerve is completely located within the sinus roof, type 2; the nerve canal is located under the roof but adjacent to it, and type 3; the nerve descending into the sinus lumen is suspended from a septation from the sinus roof or the lamella of the infraorbital ethmoid cell. Then, the relationship between the total scores of the patients who completed the SNOT-22 test and the ION variations was compared statistically. Results: A total of 103 CRS patients were included in the study. Of these patients, 52 (50.5%) had ION type 1 course, 33 (32.0%) had ION type 2 course, and 18 (17.5%) had ION type 3 course. When patients with ION types 1, 2, and 3 were compared statistically in terms of age, there was no significant difference (P = .545). The mean SNOT-22 total scores of patients with ION types 1, 2, and 3 were 43.60 ± 22.70, 46.70 ± 21.77, and 44.33 ± 17.68, respectively. There was no statistically significant difference between ION types 1, 2, and 3 and SNOT-22 total scores (P = .810). Conclusion: No relationship was found between SNOT-22 total scores and ION course variations in CRS patients.