What Causes Nasal Septal Perforations?
As a basis for appropriate treatment, it is important to investigate why a septal hole is present in the first place. Most commonly, the reason for its presence is easy to identify. Sometimes, the physician may need to do some more investigative work. There are three groups of underlying causes: trauma, medications/drugs and other diseases. Trauma leading to septal perforation: The most common events that may lead to septal hole include surgery (i.e. septoplasty, removal of tumors from the nose, cauterization of the nose), nasal fracture with injury to the septum (i.e., fracture), collection of blood between mucosa and cartilage (nasal septal hematoma), foreign bodies within the nose (tubes such as feeding tubes or breathing tubes) and self-manipulation (i.e. nose picking). Medications & Drugs: snorting of cocaine (common), nasal sprays and caustic fumes. Other diseases: nasal cancers, lymphoma, inflammatory diseases and infections. If the underlying problem that led to the perforation
