Polypropylene mesh for nasal septal perforation repair: an experimental study

The aim of this study is to determine the effectiveness and biocompatibility of polypropylene mesh for the repair of nasal septal perforations in an animal model on rabbits. A full-thickness nasal septal perforation with a diameter of nearly 10 × 10 mm was created on 12 rabbits, and then the perforation was reconstructed with two different methods. We used mucosal flaps and polypropylene mesh as an interpositional graft in group 1. Only mucosal flaps were used for reconstruction and are identified as group 2. After 4 weeks, we removed the nasal septum of the rabbits and performed histopathological examinations for acute rejection, infection, inflammatory response, fibrosis, and granuloma formation. We found perforation closure rates of 75 and 25 % in groups 1 and 2, respectively. Inflammatory response was seen in all specimens of group 1 (100 %). The inflammatory response was +1 in five of the specimens (62.5 %), +2 in one specimen (12.5 %), and +3 in two specimens (25 %). Mild fibrosis around the mesh was detected in four specimens (50 %), medium-level fibrosis was detected in one (12.5 %), and no fibrosis was detected in three (37.5 %). Severe fibrosis was not seen in any specimens. The foreign-body reaction was limited to a few giant cells, and granuloma formation was seen in two specimens (25 %). The propylene mesh showed excellent biocompatibility with the septal mucosa, and it can, therefore, be used for the repair of septal perforation as an interpositional graft safely.