[Septorhinoplasty in childhood]. / La rinosettoplastica in età pediatrica.

ABSTRACT

Septorhinoplasty plays an important role in childhood, particularly from the functional point of view. In fact, normal nasal respiration makes it possible to develop physical harmony throughout the entire body, particularly within the facial area. Nasal respiration serves as a defense mechanism, filtering air, thus relieving the lower respiratory tract of some work during the episodes of upper aero-digestive tract infection and inflammation so typical of childhood and early adolescence. The surgical indications should consider the central points in nasal surgery in childhood there must be marked functional compromise; the aesthetic defect, if present, must be highly evident; the surgical treatment must be as limited and focused as possible as to prevent interfering with subsequent development of the nose, paranasal sinuses and facial structures. In those cases where the above conditions are not found, it is advisable to postpone surgery until the child has reached 16 years of age, when the development of the nasal and facial skeleton has been completed.