title: Experiences with a new surgical technique for closure of large perforations of the nasal septum in 55 patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The surgical closure of nasal septal perforation is still an unsolved clinical problem. In this study the experiences with a novel surgical technique for closure of large perforations of the nasal septum are presented.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 55 patients with symptomatic nasal septal perforation measuring 23 ± 3 mm (range, 11-38 mm) at the widest point were enrolled in the study. The closure of the nasal septal perforation was performed with a new and simple surgical technique using a nasal mucosal flap consisting of the defect-corresponding mucosa of the floor of the nose, inferior nasal meatus, and inferior turbinate.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A symptomatic improvement of nasal symptoms was noted in all treated patients. In only 3 of 55 cases was the perforation closing incomplete.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our experience with this flap shows its reliability and safety in repairing large nasal septal perforations, with many advantages compared with other techniques for septal perforation repair.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Philipp University, Marburg, Germany. teymoort@med.uni-marburg.de
authors.forename: Afshin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Teymoortash
authors.forename: Stephan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hoch
authors.forename: Behfar
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Eivazi
authors.forename: Jochen A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Werner
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D054893:Cone-Beam Computed Tomography; D004724:Endoscopy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009297:Nasal Mucosa / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D009300:Nasal Septum / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D009666:Nose / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000473:pathology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*