Review and update on extracorporeal septoplasty

To examine the recent literature on extracorporeal septoplasty.

The literature suggests that extracorporeal septoplasty is an effective approach for both functional and cosmetic treatment of moderate to severe deformities of the caudal and dorsal septum. The procedure can be performed via an endonasal or external approach based on the nature of the deformity and the experience of the surgeon, although recent literature highlights various advantages of an external approach. The use of polydioxanone foil as a scaffold for septal reconstruction is widely accepted, and can enhance the technical performance of this technique. Although reported complication rates are low, tip deprojection and rotation have been observed in cases where extracorporeal septoplasty is performed without simultaneous rhinoplasty.

Extracorporeal septoplasty is a useful technique in the armamentarium of surgeons addressing deviations of the dorsal and caudal septum.