Nonsurgical closure of nasal septal perforations

Seventy-three patients had medical-grade Silastic buttons inserted transnasally (between June 1972 and June 1976) into a perforation of the nasal septum. This nonsurgical technique was done as an office procedure on 67 of the patients with the use of topically applied 5% cocaine solution. The Silastic button has remained in place in 72.6% of the entire study group; follow-up times for this group range from six months to four years. This mechanical covering of the perforation substantially reduced crusting and epistaxis, and it improved nasal respiration in many cases.