aetiology

Last reviewed 01/2018

The most common cause of nasal septal perforation is surgery, especially following submucosal resection.

Other causes may include:

  • other types of trauma: - aggressive nasal cautery when treating epistaxis - nose picking - perforation may follow ulceration - pressure from nasal balloons
  • chronic infection - syphilis, tuberculosis
  • malignancy
  • cocaine addiction
  • inhalation of chrome salts