Prevention of Septal Perforation During Septal Surgery Using Inferior Turbinate Mucosa and Fibrin Glue

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: As septal surgery is being performed more and more often, the incidence of septal perforation as a complication arising from the surgery has also increased. In septal surgery, if corresponding mucoperichondrial tears occurred on both sides, autologous cartilage is usually placed between the injured mucopercondrium. However, septal perforation is sometimes found after septal surgery even after this effort. The aims of this study were to introduce a new technique for the prevention of septal perforation during septal surgery using inferior turbinate mucosa and fibrin glue and to determine its usefullness by evaluating the treatment outcome. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between June 2005 and May 2007, 358 cases of septal surgery were performed. Bilateral mucoperichondrial tears on corresponding areas occurred in 26 cases. In Group 1 (15 cases), autologous cartilage was inserted between injured mucoperichondrium. In Group 2 (11 cases), autologous cartilage was inserted and then was repaired using fibrin glue and inferior turbinate mucosa. The authors compared the perforation rate between the two groups. RESULTS: In Group 1, septal perforation occurred in 7 of 15 patients (46.7%) and in Group 2, 1 of 11 patients (9.0%) had perforation. Perforation rates were significantly lower in Group 2. CONCLUSION: The technique of using fibrin glue and inferior turbinate mucosa may be an easy, effective method for the prevention of septal perforation during septal surgery.