[Perforations of nasal septum: surgical considerations]

Perforations of the nasal septum vex both patients and physicians. A variety of methods have been devised to close septal perforations although none has gained universal acceptance. The following report presents a new approach for closing septal perforations using a modification of the Fairbanks technique. The "open" approach is performed as it provides easier access. A supporting graft is only used in the temporalis fascia, not in the cranial periosteum. Furthermore, the graft is sutured only on one side of the septum. Forty patients were treated with this technique and good results were obtained with small and mid-sized perforations (respectively 80% and 83%). In cases of large perforations the results were good enough (37.5%) to warrant recommendation of this technique.