[20 years' experience with extracorporal septoplasty]

Even today the difficult septum presents a surgical problem. A severe septum deformity is caused mostly by an accident or is seen in patients with malformation like CLP-deformity. It is characterized by a massive deformation in all levels with a consecutive blocking of one or both airways. Such severe septal deformities cannot be corrected properly by classical septoplasty techniques. Therefore we suggest an extracorporal septoplasty, where the whole septum is taken out and by different techniques a new septal plate is reconstructed and then replanted. From 1981 to 2001 we operated 1855 patients and improved this method constantly, especially the safe septal fixation after replantation. Follow-ups showed that even in severe deformities a revision rate of only 5 % respectively 7 % was found. Therefore we conclude the extracorporal septoplasty with its refinements can also be recommended also to the less experienced rhinosurgeon.