Management of naso-septal deformity in childhood: long-term results.
OBJECTIVE
The classical teaching advocates a conservative approach for children presenting with various naso-septal deformities. It may not be appropriate especially when it causes nasal obstruction to the growing child. This study has two main purposes: to contribute in identifying the correct selection criteria for surgical management of pediatric patients and in selecting the most appropriate surgical technique.


METHODS
We reviewed a series of 46 cases of post-traumatic septal and naso-septal deformity not managed promptly or with recurrence of nasal deviation, following bones fracture correction alone. The mean follow-up was 10 years.


RESULTS
Patients with naso-septal deformity managed only by septoplasty had accentuation of nasal pyramid deformity; those treated by septorhinoplasty showed a good aesthetic and functional result after long-term follow-up.


CONCLUSIONS
Our series results demonstrated that the best results were obtained when we correct all evident alterations of nasal septum and pyramid at a single stage. Unsuccessful results seen in our first group suggest that immediate correction of septum alone with delayed management of nasal pyramid deformity leads to a poorer outcome.
Dipartimento Scienze Otorinolaringoiatriche, Università degli Studi di Palermo, Italy. francesco.dispenza@poste.it
Francesco
F
Dispenza
Carmelo
C
Saraniti
Daniela
D
Sciandra
Gautham
G
Kulamarva
Carlo
C
Dispenza
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004954:Esthetics; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009300:Nasal Septum / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000601:surgery*; D009666:Nose / Q000002:abnormalities*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology*; D012008:Recurrence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012225:Rhinoplasty / Q000379:methods*; D055815:Young Adult