A new method of construction of obturators for nasal septal perforations and evidence of outcomes

Abstract

Keypoints • Septal obturators and buttons for nasal septal perforations are often poorly tolerated. • We describe a new method of obturator construction using three-dimensional imaging which more closely replicates the true anatomy of the defect. • Patients were assessed using a questionnaire relating to how symptoms had changed between having no obturator, a conventional obturator and the new CT obturator. • Eight of nine patients had an improvement in total symptom scores comparing old obturators to new CT obturators and this was significant with a P-value of 0.018 using Student's paired t-test. • The majority of patients were satisfied with the new obturators and reported an overall improvement of symptoms.