Septum dislocation in the newborn: a long-term follow-up study of immediate reposition.

A report on the late outcome of reposition performed for septal dislocation present at birth. 42 cases have been examined 13 to 16 years after the intervention and it has been found that in the majority of patients (69%) the final esthetic and functional results have been satisfactory. Conversely, those cases (31%) where uni- or bilateral obstruction was still present at the time of late control had experienced a markedly increased incidence of upper respiratory infections. The different situations present at birth are indicated and it is stated that cases which tend to recur after repositioning requiring a second intervention and--possibly--unilateral packing are more likely to have an unsatisfactory late outcome.