Any nasal surgery can be complicated by the adhesions formation between the septum and the lateral wall. This complication is more common if simultaneous surgery to the septum and the turbinates is performed.
Various methods for the prevention of post operative adhesions have been proposed which include nasal decongestants, saline irrigation, nasal packing and intranasal splinting.
Nasal splints made of silastic have long been used to prevent post operative nasal adhesions in septal surgery.
In olden days various materials were used including X-ray film, wax paper and even sheets made from the empty bottles for intravenous fluids.
These intranasal splits are sutured and kept in place for a week and is removed in the out patient clinic after one week .
(25 year old patient had septoplasty an year ago in a hospital elsewhere, now came with nasal blockage. On examination there was nasal adhesions on both sides. This could have been prevented by inserting intra nasal silastic splint for a week).
