Symptoms and Treatment Methods of Septum Perforation

Septum perforation is a condition that can manifest itself with many symptoms. Symptoms that can be seen in this case include bleeding, crusting, whistling when breathing through the nose, nasal and nasal discharge, nasal pain and nasal congestion. However, in some patients, septum perforation may not cause any symptoms. Symptoms may vary according to the location, size and cause of the perforation.

If the perforation occurs in the posterior part of the nose, the symptoms can often be mild. However, perforations occurring in the anterior region of the nose can cause a particularly whistling sound, so a careful examination is necessary for the repair of septum perforation. As the size of the perforation increases, airflow within the nose may be impaired and this can cause congestion, crusting and dryness.

In addition, a large perforation can lead to loss of nasal dorsal support and this can cause saddle nose deformation. The use of cocaine can cause pain in conditions such as perforations due to infection and inflammation of the cartilage at moderate and low levels.

What are the Causes of Septum Perforation?

Septum perforasyonunun nedenleri şunlar olabilir:

- Nasal surgeries can occur as a result of traumas such as septal haematoma, nasal piercing, constant nose picking, septal fracture.

- Prolonged use of nasal spray may lead to septum perforation.

- Cocaine use can also cause septum perforation.

- Tissue diseases such as inflammatory diseases can lead to perforations in the nose.

- Infectious diseases may also cause septum perforation.

- People exposed to chemicals, such as chromium workers, may have an increased risk of septum perforation.

- The formation of tumours can also lead to holes in the nose.

Diagnosis and Treatment of Septum Perforation

If the person does not report any complaints, septum perforation treatment may not be necessary. However, in patients with symptoms, treatment options include temporary solutions such as nasal washing, septal closures, emollient and moisturising creams.

Surgical intervention may be required for a permanent solution. In the surgical method, the nasal mucosa is lifted and turned towards the perforation site and then the hole is closed by suturing the mucosa. This is done from both sides and a barrier such as cartilage or bone may be placed to prevent the hole from reoccurring.

The success of surgical treatment of perforations caused by cocaine use, nose picking and some diseases may be low. In addition, perforations on the front of the nose have a higher chance of closure than those on the back of the nose. A small hole (less than 1 cm) has a 90% to 100% chance of closure. A large hole (larger than 2 cm) has a 70% to 80% chance of closure.

The surgeon's knowledge and experience are very important for septal perforation repair. A correct approach and the right surgical technique must be selected to achieve a successful surgical outcome. Therefore, treatment options and methods should be carefully evaluated according to the patient's specific condition.