title: Palatal Perforation as a Rare Complication of Nasal Septoplasty.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Nasal septoplasty is one of the most commonly performed surgical procedures by otolaryngologists or plastic surgeons and is generally performed to improve the quality of life. Although nasal surgeries are generally safe and effective procedures, various complications have been described in the literature.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this article, we present a rare case of fracture of a part of the hard palate resulting in palatal perforation after nasal septoplasty surgery early diagnosed and successfully treated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patient follow-up 1 year after oronasal closure revealed complete healing of the hard palate without the presence of fistula.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Palatal perforation during septoplasty is extremely rare and, even though it is not a life-threatening complication, has potentially annoying effects; according to its size, it can result in nasal speech, oral health problems, and nasal regurgitation of liquids and is sometimes related with reconstructive challenging problems.
  
  
  METHODS
  This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the A5 online Instructions to Authors. www.springer.com/00266 .
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, "G. Papanikolaou" General Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 53 Derkon Street, 54454, Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: Ioannis
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Tilaveridis
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, "G. Papanikolaou" General Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 53 Derkon Street, 54454, Thessaloniki, Greece. ikalaitsidou@yahoo.gr.
authors.forename: Ioanna
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kalaitsidou
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, "G. Papanikolaou" General Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 53 Derkon Street, 54454, Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: Athanasios
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kyrgidis
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, "G. Papanikolaou" General Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 53 Derkon Street, 54454, Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: Ioannis-Sofianos
authors.initials: IS
authors.lastname: Astreidis
mesh_terms: D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009300:Nasal Septum / Q000601:surgery*; D019647:Oral Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D009957:Oroantral Fistula / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D021362:Palate, Hard / Q000293:injuries* / Q000601:surgery; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D035583:Rare Diseases; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods; D012225:Rhinoplasty / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D018570:Risk Assessment; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Nasal septoplasty; Nasal surgery; Oronasal fistula; Palatal perforation