Nasalseptal hematoma/abscess: management and outcome in a tertiary hospital of a developing country

BACKGROUND: Nasal hematoma/abscess is an uncommon entity, but capable of leading to serious consequences if not handled meticulously, and with urgency. OBJECTIVE: To present the management, and outcome of nasal septal hematoma/abscess in a Nigerian tertiary institution. METHOD: Consecutive patients diagnosed with nasal septal hematoma/abscess over a 10-year period, treated at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu, Nigeria, were prospectively studied. The processes leading to diagnosis, treatment, and outcome were sequentially evaluated. RESULTS: Fifty-three patients (37 males and 16 females), age 5-65 years (with mean age of 23.10 years), were included. Surgical drainage of the hematoma/abscess, intranasal packing with insertion of drain was performed with total resolution of problem in all the cases. CONCLUSION: Incision and drainage, and intranasal packing with insertion of drain was effective in treating nasal septal hematoma/abscess.