How common is septal perforation cocaine?
Overall, 104 patients (75 male, 29 female, aged between 16 and 54 years), all habitual inhaling cocaine users (≥ 10 times per month) have been observed for 2 years. Of these, 11 (10.5%) had nasal septal perforation, which is a frequent complication related to cocaine use.
Can you get a hole in your nose from Coke?
Cocaine Use: Even a one-time use of cocaine in the nose can cause a hole in the septum. Street cocaine is rarely pure and is often cut with abrasive and irritating substances, such as talc or borax, which, when combined with the cocaine eats right through the septal membrane and cartilage.
How do you know if you have a hole in your nose from Coke?
In effect, the hole will continue to grow for as long as snorting cocaine continues. Symptoms to watch for include: Nosebleeds. Scabbing inside the nose.
Can a small septal perforation heal?
Can a perforated septum heal on its own? Sometimes, but it primarily depends upon the size of the hole, the location of the perforation and the extent of the tissue damage. It’s unlikely that a perforated septum will completely heal on its own, and in many cases, it’s more likely to get worse.
Can your septum grow back?
Cartilage, which covers and cushions the surface of joints, generally does not regenerate once damaged, but “cartilage cells from the nasal septum (the part of the nose that separates the nostrils) are known to have a great capacity to grow and form new cartilage.”
Can you feel a perforated septum?
A perforated septum doesn’t always cause any symptoms, but they can include nosebleeds, trouble breathing, and the feeling that your nose is blocked up. You might make a whistling sound as you breathe. About half the time, this happens after you’ve had surgery to fix a different problem in your nose.
How common is nasal septum perforation?
Although the incidence of septal perforation is reported to be around 1%, it is actually much more. Septal perforations may occur due to iatrogenic, trauma, drug use (steroids, cocaine, etc.) and cauterization. The most common cause of septum surgery is secondary to infection.
How serious is a septal perforation?
A septal perforation can cause lifelong symptoms such as chronic crusting, bleeding and whistling. The local mucosal inflammation and blood often leads to an inflammation of the mucosa which can lead to mucosal breakdown and exposure of the cartilage. This in turn produces a chronic chondritis (cartilage inflammation).
What is considered a large septal perforation?
Septal perforations are classified according to site and topography: cartilaginous, osteocartilaginous or intermediate, bone or posterior; according to size: small (< 1 cm in diameter), medium (1-2 cm) and large (> 2 cm).