title: Management of perforations of the nasal septum: can extracorporeal septoplasty be an effective option?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Perforation of the nasal septum is a frustrating problem frequently reported in the literature. Surprisingly, in most reports, iatrogenic perforation during septoplasty and electrocautery are the leading causes of this complication. This article presents the management of septal perforations and the indications for an extracorporeal approach.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fourteen patients with septal perforations were referred for treatment. Treatment was chosen based on defect size. Flaps, extracorporeal repair, or no treatment was used as indicated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Two of 14 perforations were small and were repaired by local flaps, 5 cases were treated by extracorporeal repair, and the 7 remaining cases required no surgical procedure.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The extracorporeal technique, when indicated, can be used effectively for the repair of nasal septum perforations in selected cases.
authors.affiliation: Associate Professor, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Craniomaxillofacial Research Center, Buali Hospital, Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Behnam
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bohluli
authors.affiliation: Professor, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Trauma Research Center, Baqityatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Electronic address: motamedical@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Mohammad Hosein Kalantar
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Motamedi
authors.affiliation: Chief Resident, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Craniomaxillofacial Research Center, Shariati Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Payam
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Varedi
authors.affiliation: Craniomaxillofacial Research Center, Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Mansour
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Malekzadeh
authors.affiliation: Assistant Professor, Department of Oral, Maxillofacial, and Plastic Facial Surgery, University Hospital RWTH-Aachen, Aachen, Germany.
authors.forename: Alireza
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ghassemi
authors.affiliation: Chair, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Northside Hospital, Atlanta, GA; Private Practice, Georgia Oral and Facial Surgery, Marietta, GA; Clinical Associate Professor, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta, GA; Clinical Assistant, Department of Surgery, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA.
authors.forename: Shahrokh C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Bagheri
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D055171:Nasal Cartilages / Q000293:injuries / Q000601:surgery; D009300:Nasal Septum / Q000293:injuries* / Q000601:surgery*; D011182:Postoperative Care; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011677:Punctures; D012225:Rhinoplasty / Q000379:methods*; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D013536:Suture Techniques; D055815:Young Adult