External Rhinoplasty For Septal Perforations
Detroit, Michigan – I had the pleasure of attending a meeting in Chicago this past weekend which was centered on various reconstructive strategies for rhinoplasty, head and neck surgery, otology and facial plastic surgery.
A number of otolaryngologists attended a symposium in Chicago this weekend to discuss reconstructive strategies using banked human tissue. It was exciting to see so many minds at work discussing how reconstruct missing tissues from the head and neck, face, sinuses and ear.
An area where employing banked human tissue works well is in the reapir of septal perforations. Essentially, a perforated septum is a hole inside the nose, specifically on the nasal septum (which divides the inside of the nose into right and left sides). Perforations may occur from nasal trauma, previous surgery, diseases of the nasal septum per se’. Intra nasal cocaine use is also notorious for causing these peforations.
Perforations do not need to be repaired (closed) unless they are causing symptoms like bleeding, scabbing, whistling or a sense of nasal obstruction. Through tried and true principles, these perforations can be closed via an external rhinoplasty approach. The success of closing these tricky holes in the septum is increased dramatically when a small sliver of banked tissue is placed between the two sides of the septum before it’s finally closed.
Banked tissue is safe and reliable. It is NOT used to replace native tissues so calling it a graft (living tissue) would be incorrect. Essentially it is a banked dermis layer of skin that is processed and made chemically inert. It acts as a scaffold and support mechanism for the native tissues creep into and replace. It can strengthen potentially weak areas while the body heals itself.
