[Role of the septal cartilage in facial growth. Experimental study in rats]

The authors report a surgical experiment on nasal septal cartilage in the growing rat. Three different operations performed on 95 animals to assess. The role of septal cartilage in facial growth and the effects of standard surgical techniques on facial growth. The results obtained show that sub-periosteal dissection of the nasal bones has no adverse effect on facial growth; conservative procedures such as removal and replacement of septal cartilage, produce minimal effects on facial growth, but large septal cartilage excision obviously impairs facial growth. Guidelines concerning septal surgery in children are suggested in view of these results.