About Dr. Kridel SEPTAL PERFORATIONS: What You Can Do
Perforated septums have many causes and the etiology should be determined by
a head and neck (ENT-Otolaryngology) surgeon; they can be a sign of serious
conditions which ma
y need to be ruled out. However, previous nasal surgery and
steroid nasal sprays could be the culprits, too. The photo to the right is an
example of a perforation of the nasal septum. Unrepaired perforations can get
larger, cause whistling, crusting, nasal obstruction, and bleeding and may be
chronically infected. Some can cause collapse of the external nose. If you
decide against surgery, there are better treatments than A&D ointment. Go
see an ENT doc who repairs these often and has a good track record. Ask the
ENT's in your community who is the best for this. Smaller perforations are
easier to repair; if the perforation keeps getting bigger, it may not be
repairable. In summary, septal perforation repair (nasal reconstructive surgery)
is a very complex operation that takes much skill and many hours. This is not
the simple operation that has been tried in the past that usually does not work.
Through years of trying very many methods, we have adopted a method that we have
published and which is now quite well respected. Our office will make every
effort to help you with insurance reimbursement for this procedure. However, you
must know that this is a special condition and a special operation which your
insurance carrier may or may not recognize. You are probably here because either
you or your doctor has heard of our success rate with this operation and
therefore you are expecting this more complex operation which we hope, but
cannot promise, will work in your case. This website provides general
information only and does not take the place of a visit to a physician for
review and examination of your special circumstances.
