Septal injury

Septal injury

A blunt injury of moderate force may lead to lateral displace - ment or deformity of the septal cartilage, restricting the nasal airway . Unlike the nasal bones the nasal septum cannot be manipulated back into position and requires a formal septo - plasty procedure to restore the anatomy and the patency of the nasal airwa ys. - Bleeding under the mucoperichondrium of the septum will cause a septal haematoma and nasal obstruction. Untreated, a septal haematoma will progress to abscess forma tion and ulti - mately result in necrosis of the septal cartilage, septal perfora - tion and nasal collapse. A septal haematoma should be treated - by incision and drainage of the blood clot, insertion of a small s and silicone drain and packing of the nasal fossa. A broad-spectrum - prophylactic antibiotic should be prescribed. Summary box 51.9 Nasal trauma /uni25CF /uni25CF /uni25CF /uni25CF

Do not overlook a septal haematoma Displaced nasal bone fractures should be reduced within 3 /uni00A0 weeks of injury Severe persistent epistaxis after trauma suggests lacrimal bone fracture and injury to the anterior ethmoid artery CSF rhinorrhoea indicates a fracture involving the anterior skull base with a dural tear

Septal injury

A blunt injury of moderate force may lead to lateral displace - ment or deformity of the septal cartilage, restricting the nasal airway . Unlike the nasal bones the nasal septum cannot be manipulated back into position and requires a formal septo - plasty procedure to restore the anatomy and the patency of the nasal airwa ys. - Bleeding under the mucoperichondrium of the septum will cause a septal haematoma and nasal obstruction. Untreated, a septal haematoma will progress to abscess forma tion and ulti - mately result in necrosis of the septal cartilage, septal perfora - tion and nasal collapse. A septal haematoma should be treated - by incision and drainage of the blood clot, insertion of a small s and silicone drain and packing of the nasal fossa. A broad-spectrum - prophylactic antibiotic should be prescribed. Summary box 51.9 Nasal trauma /uni25CF /uni25CF /uni25CF /uni25CF

Do not overlook a septal haematoma Displaced nasal bone fractures should be reduced within 3 /uni00A0 weeks of injury Severe persistent epistaxis after trauma suggests lacrimal bone fracture and injury to the anterior ethmoid artery CSF rhinorrhoea indicates a fracture involving the anterior skull base with a dural tear