[Comments on septoplasty].

There is a discrepancy between the occasionally heard opinion that septoplasty is an easy operation and its relatively high failure and complication rates. Here we discuss the specific difficulties and possible pitfalls of functional reconstructive septoplasty. The significance of optimal vision using a binocular operating microscope is emphasized. Most of the important measures needed to avoid postoperative complications such as redeviation, pseudo-hump nose or nasoseptal defect are painstaking subperichondrial dissection without injuring the septal cartilage, use of the so-called Cottle-tunnels, sufficient mobilisation and exact straightening of the anterior septal cartilage without remaining tension, stable reconstruction of the posterior septum with cartilaginous and/or bony fragments after selective resection of deviated septal parts, re-fixation of the mobilized anterior cartilage ("swinging-door") to the periosteum of the anterior nasal spine and, perhaps, primary suture of iatrogenic perforations of the mucoperichondrium during the operation. If postoperative complications such as septal hematoma, septal perforation or saddling of the nose are recognized during the first postoperative week, immediate revision surgery is recommended.