Prevention and treatment of septal deformity in infancy and childhood.

There are two basic types of septal deformity, namely anterior nasal deformity and combined septal deformity, which may occur independently or both together. They are considered to be acquired from different types of pressures on the foetus during pregnancy or parturition. The incidence of anterior nasal deformity was found to be 4% in cases of spontaneous vaginal delivery, but 13% in cases of increased pressure as persistent occipitoposterior. The combined septal deformity is part of a facial deformity, and is best tested by using simple nasal testing struts. The incidence of straight septa varied with the degree of pressure with an average of 42%. In adult surveys a little over 20% are straight. Methods of manipulation are described using special infant forceps. Indications for manipulation are: Stuffy nose, feeding problems and sticky eyes. The procedure and results of rapid maxillary expansion are presented.