53017 - Nasal Septum Reconstruction

The need for reconstruction of the nasal septum arises when a patient has a severely damaged or absent septum—often due to extensive trauma, prior surgery, or destructive pathology like tumours or infections—causing nasal collapse, breathing difficulties, or cosmetic deformity, requiring surgical rebuilding under anesthesia with assistance in a hospital using grafts or flaps to restore structural integrity and function. This procedure is indicated for complex septal damage beyond simple correction, critical in the maxillofacial region where the septum supports nasal form and respiration.

Several scenarios underscore the necessity of this intervention:

• Severe trauma: A crushing facial injury might obliterate the septum, leading to a saddle nose deformity and obstructed breathing, necessitating reconstruction with cartilage grafts to rebuild the nasal framework.
• Surgical loss: Extensive septal resection during tumour removal could leave a gap, impairing nasal support and airflow, requiring grafts to restore the septum’s role as a midline barrier.
• Pathological destruction: Conditions like Wegener’s granulomatosis or cocaine abuse might erode the septum, causing collapse or perforation too large for simple closure, prompting a full reconstruction to prevent chronic crusting and infections.
• Cosmetic and functional impact: A flattened nose with breathing issues affects both appearance and quality of life, driving the need for reconstruction to enhance nasal aesthetics and respiratory efficiency.

For instance, a patient with a collapsed nose from a car accident might require septal reconstruction using rib cartilage to restore shape and breathing, with the assistant ensuring graft precision amidst delicate nasal anatomy. In an aged care context, an elderly patient with a destroyed septum from chronic infection could need this to alleviate breathing struggles and prevent sinus complications, adjusted for their frailty and comorbidities. By rebuilding the septum with autogenous or synthetic materials, this service reestablishes nasal support, improves airflow, and corrects deformity, making it an essential procedure for severe septal damage within the maxillofacial region.

Restores nasal structure, improves breathing, and corrects cosmetic deformity.

Recovery of 4-6 weeks with swelling, nasal care, and graft healing; hospital stay required.