Management of Herpes Simplex Virus Reactivation Following Open Septorhinoplasty: A Case Report

Herpes simplex virus (HSV) reactivation post-surgery is an important complication to watch out for in surgeries like septorhinoplasty. This case report discusses the difficulties in diagnosis and successful treatment approaches for HSV reactivation after an open septorhinoplasty, underscoring the need for increased clinical awareness. This is a case report of a 33-year-old female with no medical history and no allergies who underwent an open septorhinoplasty to correct nasal obstruction and external nasal deformity without any intraoperative complications. After the surgery, she was sent home with Fucidin ointment and oral Augmentin. Two days later, she began to experience increased redness and swelling around the columellar area. Initially, we suspected an infection, a skin reaction to her medications and sutures, or possibly an HSV outbreak. Even though she continued to take antibiotics and apply ointments as prescribed, she returned five days later with redness and itchy, painful blisters. Five years ago, following lip filler injections there was an HSV infection incident that raised concerns about the accuracy of the diagnosis, additional tests were conducted. A dermatologist ruled out bacterial infections with negative swab results for confirmation, the patient was diagnosed with a recurrence of HSV reactivation and provided successful treatment using Valacyclovir tablets and Zovirax cream leading to significant improvement within three days. This situation highlights the significance of considering HSV reactivation as a potential complication after surgeries. It is essential to obtain a patient history and administer treatment promptly for the best results in facial procedures. Level of Evidence V.