Surgical treatment of nasal septal deviation (septoplasty) in children

The aim of this study was to indicate the importance of surgical treatment of nasal septal deviation in children as early correction of functional and cosmetic nose deformities. In this study, we presented 76 children, from age of 7 to 15, who were surgical treated for the reason of nasal septal deviation starting from January 2001. to December 2009. There were 48 (63%) male and 28 (37%) female patients. The lowest number of patients were between 7 and 9 years old--5 (6.5%), between 10 and 12 years--28 (37%) and 43--(56.5%) between 13 and 15 years. Only 7 (9%) patients indicated genetics inheritance, and 11 of them (14%) could not determine the exact cause of deviation origin. References taken from the parents showed that nasal septal deviation developed like consequence of injury in 58 (76%) cases. We used closed technique of septoplasty with hemitransfictional incision and sub mucosal resection. Deviated portion of septum was completely removed. Patients felt improvement in nose breathing in 65 (85%) cases. The most often complication was nasal obstruction in 6 (8%) cases which occurred due to the insufficient removal of deviated portion. We also had a septal perforation in one and abscess of nasal septum in another case. There were no esthetic deformities.Surgical treatment of nasal septal deviation in children must to be conservative and limited on injured part of septum. After the operation nose breathing significantly improved, without consequences on esthetic appearance or the growth of central part of a face.