[Reproducibility of rhinomanometric measurements of nose breathing resistance and of x-ray cephalometric recordings of the natural head position in children].

The reproducibility of rhinomanometric recordings of nasal resistance to breathing and of cephalometric recordings of natural head position was studied in 30 children aged seven to 13 years. Posterior rhinomanometry, with and without decongestion of the nasal mucosa, was performed on two occasions. Rhinomanometric registration was possible in 92% of the children but the recorded values for air flow showed a considerable intraindividual variation. The natural standing position of the head and of the cervical spine as well as the relation between the head and the cervical spine was recorded in profile by X-ray cephalometry on two occasions. During the recording, the subject was looking at his face in a mirror. Systematic differences between the duplicate determinations and an accidental error of 4 degrees in the determination of the position of the head and the cervical spine were found. In about 10% of the cases, the differences between the duplicate determinations were greater than 10 degrees.