title: Polyethylene implants in nasal septal restoration.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Numerous techniques have been described to repair nasal septal perforations (SPs). However, many are technically challenging, with varying degrees of success.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the use of polyethylene (Medpor; Porex Technologies) implants in the closure of nasal SPs.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective cohort study in an academic research setting.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fourteen patients with a nasal SP were identified between March 1, 2008, and February 1, 2011.
  
  
  METHODS
  Each patient underwent repair of the nasal SP with a polyethylene orbital sheet implant. After measuring the size of the SP, the implant was trimmed and shaped to fit appropriately. The implant was then placed between bilateral mucoperichondrial flaps using an endonasal approach.
  
  
  METHODS
  Successful closure of the nasal SP with an intact polyethylene graft and complete remucosalization by the 1-year follow-up visit.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The most common initial symptoms of SPs were nasal obstruction, crusting, and epistaxis. The SPs ranged from 0.5 to 4.0 cm in diameter. Thirteen of 14 patients (93%) who underwent repair of their nasal SPs with a polyethylene implant had successful closure.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The use of polyethylene implants is effective and technically easy and is associated with low patient morbidity because it does not require the harvesting of tissue from other donor sites.
  
  
  METHODS
  4.
authors.affiliation: Division of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: John J W
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Regan C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.forename: Michael W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Deutschmann
authors.forename: Shamir P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Chandarana
authors.forename: Paul A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Marck
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004724:Endoscopy / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D061270:Nasal Septal Perforation / Q000601:surgery*; D020959:Polyethylene; D011095:Polyethylenes; D011446:Prospective Studies; D019736:Prostheses and Implants; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D011475:Prosthesis Failure; D019919:Prosthesis Implantation / Q000379:methods*; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: C084562:Medpor; D011095:Polyethylenes; D020959:Polyethylene