Treatment
The majority of septal perforations can be managed without surgery. The hole will never close but if the open, raw trailing edge of the perforation can heal, the vast majority of symptoms resolve. The open irritated and raw surface must be continuously covered with a cream using a cotton applicator. This will prevent this area from drying out, cracking, bleeding, forming a scab and crusting up. A few months of successful application will allow the ulcerated edge to heal and reduces or resolves symptoms.
In a small percentage of patients surgery is necessary to alleviate symptoms. There are several different surgical procedures with reported success rates between 40 to 95%. Often these can't be reproduced by other surgeons which suggests the actual rate is lower.
Read more about this topic: Nasal Septum Perforation
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