Complications of septoplasty: Two cases report and review of the literature

Abstract

Introduction: septoplasty is a commonly performed surgical procedure aimed at the partial or total correction of osteo-cartilaginous deformities of the nasal septum. Although rare, the most frequently encountered complications are deformities, septal haematoma, sequelae perforations of the septum and scar adhesions that may be responsible for persistent nasal obstruction. Case report: We report here two (02) cases of patients who presented complications after septoplasty. The first one presented a scar adhesion (synechia) of the left nasal valve and the second one a deformity of the nasal pyramid. Clinically, both patients had breathing difficulties and imaging confirmed the diagnosis. The management was surgical, consisting for the first in the removal of the adhesion with a Z-plasty of the endonasal mucosa and the placement of a silicone plate; and the second benefited from a repeat septoplasty. Both cases had a satisfactory outcome with no complications. Discussion: Careful attention to detail in identifying the appropriate anatomy and maintaining good visualization is the key to safe and effective septoplasty with a very low complication rate. The causes for our two cases would probably be for the synechia case, a breach of the endonasal mucosa and for the nasal pyramid deformity, a persistence of a cartilaginous remnant during the first septoplasty.

Keywords

• Septoplasty
• Complications
• Postoperative
• Nasal adhesion
• Deformity