[Admin]

Septal Hematoma: This picture shows a unilateral left septalhematoma which has been present for over one week. This condition requires immediate medical attention. The septalcartilage has no blood supply and receives all of its nutrients and oxygen from the perichondrium. If the hematoma is bilateral, the cartilage can die within 24 hours, resulting in a saddle nose deformity. Treatment consists of surgical drainage, packing and antibiotics. Click on pictures to enlarge !!!



The pictures below are from a 5 year old male who sustained a blow to his nose four days prior to his visit. Note the bilateral swelling of his nasal septum(picture to the extreme right). The child was taken to the operating room where a septalhematoma and abscess was drained. The vast majority of the septalcartilage had liquefied, turning yellow and translucent (see middle picture). The nasal</B>cartilage is important both for the support of the nose and in children for mid-facial growth. This child is at risk for developing a saddle nose deformity, and mid-facial hypoplasia (flat cheeks and poor occlusion with a maxillary under bite). Two weeks out (left picture) the nose is starting to show a mild saddle deformity.