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Inflammatory diseases of the nasal septum: causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment
Last reviewed: 07.07.2025
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These diseases include its abscess and perichondritis. In the overwhelming majority of cases, these diseases occur secondarily as complications of a fracture and post-traumatic hematoma of the nasal septum, septum surgery, and less often as complications of sycosis, furuncle, eczema, and other inflammatory diseases of the nasal vestibule.
An abscess of the nasal septum occurs as a result of pyogenic microorganisms entering the hematoma area, followed by the development of purulent inflammation. The clinical course is characterized by an increase in body temperature, severe headache and local pain, swelling in the nose and eyes. Endoscopically, a fluctuating swelling is determined in the area of the nasal septum on one or both sides, often covered with an easily rejected fibrinous coating. If there is a perforation in the area of the abscess cavity, a yellowish-greenish, often creamy liquid in the form of a drop is released through it.
Surgical treatment: opening the abscess, washing its cavity with a 10% sodium chloride solution (20-30 ml), then with an antibiotic solution. Drainage with sterile rubber strips or insertion of a thin polystyrene tube into the abscess cavity for systematic washing of the abscess cavity for 2-3 days, loose anterior nasal tamponade, sling bandage. Per os - broad-spectrum antibiotics, analgesics.
Perichondritis of the nasal septum develops as a complication of its abscess or erysipelas of the nose, osteomyelitis of the upper jaw, acute general infectious diseases. As a rule, perichondritis is accompanied by an abscess of the nasal septum and, if aggressive, can lead to melting of the cartilage of the nasal septum and the formation of its extensive perforation. Treatment is determined by the pathological picture: opening the abscess, removing dead sequestering cartilages of the nasal septum, drainage of the cavity, etc. against the background of massive antibiotic therapy.
Complications: Osteomyelitis of the nasal bones, orbital infection, intracranial complications.
The prognosis is determined by the virulence of the pathogen, the prevalence of the inflammatory process, and the presence of complications.
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