Delayed Septal Perforation as a Complication of COVID-19: A Case Report

• Published in: Aesthetic plastic surgery 2021-06, Vol.45 (3), p.1197-1200
• Main Authors: Wee, Corinne, Younis, Joseph, Xia, Thomas, Guyuron, Bahman
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Case Reports; Coronaviruses; COVID-19; Female; Humans; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Nasal Septum - surgery; Nose Deformities, Acquired - surgery; Olfaction disorders; Otorhinolaryngology; Plastic Surgery; Rhinoplasty; Rhinoplasty - adverse effects; SARS-CoV-2; Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; Treatment Outcome
• ISSN: 0364-216X; 1432-5241; 1432-5241
• DOI: 10.1007/s00266-020-02078-2

Background There are increasing reports of the effects of SARS-CoV-2 on olfactory function, with a significant number of patients reporting anosmia as a symptom. However, our knowledge and understanding of the virus’s complete impact on the nose remains poor. This report describes a unique patient case to demonstrate how COVID-19 may be associated with rhinoplasty complications such as septal perforation. Case Report This is a case report of a previously healthy patient who underwent septorhinoplasty in 2018. She had frequent follow-up including intranasal examinations without evidence of the septal perforation for the 2 years following her operation. In March 2020, the patient was noted to have symptoms suggestive of COVID-19, but testing was not recommended by the pediatrician. Soon after her symptoms resolved, she experienced a sudden onset of whistling and physical examination revealed a perforation in the septum which rapidly enlarged over the ensuing weeks. She tested positive for the COVID-19 antibody. After confirming that she no longer had an active infection via antigen testing, she underwent repair of her septal perforation without complications. Conclusion This case report illustrates a septorhinoplasty complication that may be associated with COVID-19. Further study into this virus’s impact on vascularity and wound healing, specifically in the nose, is recommended. Level of Evidence V This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266.