ABSTRACT
Background: Nasal septal perforations (NSPs) are notoriously difficult to fix and closure can paradoxically lead to worsening of symptoms, prompting numerous techniques for repair including temporoparietal fascia (TPF)-polydioxanone (PDS) plate interposition grafting. Objectives: To compare rates of NSP closure with TPF-PDS interposition grafting among a variety of institutions with diverse environmental influences and patient-specific factors. Methods: Retrospective review of patients undergoing TPF-PDS interposition grafting at seven different U.S. institutions over 5 years. Outcomes include closure rate, self-reported symptom improvement, change in Nasal Obstruction Symptomatic Evaluation (NOSE) score, and postoperative complications. Results: Sixty-two patients (39 female) with a mean age of 41.5 years were included. Most common perforation location was anterior (53%), and average size was 1.70 cm2. NSP closure with symptomatic improvement was achieved in 95% of participants. Postoperative NOSE scores decreased on average by 42 points. Residual crusting occurred in 29% of patients, independent of external factors. Conclusions: TPF-PDS interposition grafting is highly effective for NSP repair in a wide variety of settings, and NOSE scores correspond well with patient-reported outcomes.
