Historical notes and actual observations on the nasal septal abscess especially in children

The recognition of the nasal septal abscess is traced back to 1810 when Cloquet healed an abscess by drainage. This therapy does not prevent the saddle nose deformity and its functional problems in many cases. Since 1963 the immediate reconstruction of the destroyed septum in the acute phase of the septal abscess by means of homologous cartilage has proved to prevent long-term effects of the abscess especially in the growing nose. This is underlined by some of our own long-term results and histological findings. Finally, some new pathogenetic aspects are discussed based on histological and enzymatic findings of the human septal cartilage.