Repair of nasal septal perforations using auricular conchal cartilage graft in children: report on three cases and literature review.

OBJECTIVES Repair of nasal septal perforation is a challenging procedure. Numerous methods have been described to close nasoseptal perforations with varying degrees of success. The lack of a consensus on nasoseptal perforation repair reflects the shortcomings of each method. There has been a paucity of literature on nasoseptal repair in the paediatric age group. We report our experience of repair of nasal septal perforation secondary to button battery injury using auricular conchal cartilage in the paediatric population. METHODS Retrospective review of case notes and close regular follow-up of the patients since their first presentations with button batteries as foreign bodies in the nose. RESULTS Three out of the three children who underwent repair of the nasal septum achieved successful closure of the nasal septum. One child with a large septal perforation required three procedures to achieve closure of the perforation. CONCLUSIONS Repair of nasal septal perforations is a challenging procedure especially in children. Good results can be achieved with auricular conchal cartilage graft.