Auricular Perichondrium Graft for Septal Perforation Repair

Procedures which utilize bilateral mucosal flaps with an interposition graft are frequently used when attempting closure of a septal perforation. Concurrent surgical management of the nasal valve or an aesthetic deformity may be indicated. The objective of this study is to report our experience using auricular perichondrium for the interposition graft when auricular cartilage is harvested for structural or aesthetic graft material.

A retrospective medical record review was performed for septal perforation repairs performed at Mayo Clinic in Arizona from January 2010 through January 2020. Patients identified for this study underwent a procedure utilizing bilateral nasal mucosal flaps with an auricular perichondrium interposition graft.

Forty-four patients (31 females) with a mean age of 53.3 years met study criteria. The most common presenting symptoms were nasal obstruction, crusting, and epistaxis. Prior septal surgery was the most common perforation etiology (45.5%). Mean perforation length was 11.8 (range, 3-26) mm and height, 9.1 (range, 2-16) mm. Auricular cartilage was harvested for nasal valve surgery in 43 patients. Complete perforation closure was noted in 95.3% (41/43) of patients with a minimum post-operative follow-up of 3 (mean, 20.4) months. Four patients underwent revision surgery for persistent postoperative nasal obstruction.

The ear can provide both cartilage and perichondrium for use in septal perforation surgery. Our study demonstrates the successful use of auricular perichondrium as the interposition graft for a perforation closure procedure utilizing bilateral nasal mucosal flaps.