Whats a deviated nasal septum?

Question

I have this due to a nose injury and may need surgery. Do you have a similar condition?

Answer 1

What is a deviated nasal septum?

The nasal septum is the structure which normally divides the nasal cavity into two halves.

Although it is often a little crooked, this does not usually cause problems. However, sometimes the septum is so deformed that the air passage is blocked in one or both nostrils. The nasal septum can be crooked without it being visible from the outside.


The nasal septum can actually be crooked without being visible from the outside.


How does a deviated nasal septum occur?

It is either present from birth or occurs due to damage to the nose as a result of trauma to the face - sustained in a fight or a fall, for example.

What are the symptoms?


Nosebleeds.


Blockage of the nose, which is caused by significant deviation.


Occasionally, headaches or colds.


It may also make sinus infection more likely.


What can you do to avoid a deviated nasal septum?


Use appropriate safety equipment during sports.


Use a helmet when riding a bike or roller skating.


Fasten your seat belt when driving.


How does the doctor make a diagnosis?

The doctor will look inside your nose using a device to open the nostrils or a special kind of telescope. A diagnosis will then be made based on these observations and your own symptoms.

Good advice

Even if you have a crooked nasal septum, there is no need to contact your doctor unless you have any of the symptoms mentioned above.

How is it treated?

There are several possible operations that can be performed. These involve moving cartilage and bone or repositioning the cartilage (the gristle). An operation usually lasts less than an hour, but swelling following surgery may delay final improvement for up to six weeks.

Answer 2

What is a deviated nasal septum?

The nasal septum is the structure which normally divides the nasal cavity into two halves.

Although it is often a little crooked, this does not usually cause problems. However, sometimes the septum is so deformed that the air passage is blocked in one or both nostrils. The nasal septum can be crooked without it being visible from the outside.

The nasal septum can actually be crooked without being visible from the outside.

How does a deviated nasal septum occur?

It is either present from birth or occurs due to damage to the nose as a result of trauma to the face - sustained in a fight or a fall, for example.

What are the symptoms?

Nosebleeds.
Blockage of the nose, which is caused by significant deviation.
Occasionally, headaches or colds.

It may also make sinus infection more likely.

Answer 3

Fact Sheet: Deviated Septum

The shape of your nasal cavity could be the cause of chronic sinusitis. The nasal septum is the wall dividing the nasal cavity into halves; it is composed of a central supporting skeleton covered on each side by mucous membrane. The front portion of this natural partition is a firm but bendable structure made mostly of cartilage and is covered by skin that has a substantial supply of blood vessels. The ideal nasal septum is exactly midline, separating the left and right sides of the nose into passageways of equal size.
Estimates are that 80 percent of all nasal septums are off-center, a condition that is generally not noticed. A "deviated septum" occurs when the septum is severely shifted away from the midline. The most common symptom from a badly deviated or crooked septum is difficulty breathing through the nose. The symptoms are usually worse on one side, and sometimes actually occur on the side opposite the bend. In some cases the crooked septum can interfere with the drainage of the sinuses, resulting in repeated sinus infections.

Septoplasty is the preferred surgical treatment to correct a deviated septum. This procedure is not generally performed on minors, because the cartilaginous septum grows until around age 18. Septal deviations commonly occur due to nasal trauma.

A deviated septum may cause one or more of the following:

Blockage of one or both nostrils
Nasal congestion, sometimes one-sided
Frequent nosebleeds
Frequent sinus infections
At times, facial pain, headaches, postnasal drip
Noisy breathing during sleep (in infants and young children)
In some cases, a person with a mildly deviated septum has symptoms only when he or she also has a "cold" (an upper respiratory tract infection). In these individuals, the respiratory infection triggers nasal inflammation that temporarily amplifies any mild airflow problems related to the deviated septum. Once the "cold" resolves, and the nasal inflammation subsides, symptoms of a deviated septum often resolve, too.

Diagnosis Of A Deviated Septum: Patients with chronic sinusitis often have nasal congestion, and many have nasal septal deviations. However, for those with this debilitating condition, there may be additional reasons for the nasal airway obstruction. The problem may result from a septal deviation, reactive edema (swelling) from the infected areas, allergic problems, mucosal hypertrophy (increase in size), other anatomic abnormalities, or combinations thereof. A trained specialist in diagnosing and treating ear, nose, and throat disorders can determine the cause of your chronic sinusitis and nasal obstruction.

Answer 4

Deviated = To differ or move away from an established or prescribed mode of behavior.

Septum = Of the nose or nasal passages.

Doesn't anyone use the dictionary anymore?

It means your nasal passages deviate from the normal expected shape and it keeps you from breathing correctly as a result. It usually requires a nose job to fix it and it is the only way you can have it paid for by an insurance company... Otherwise it is cosmetic and done to change the look of your nose by redirection the inner cartilage. Which ironically can cause a deviated septum that prevents breating correctly afterward.

Answer 5

The shape of your nasal cavity could be the cause of chronic sinusitis. The nasal septum is the wall dividing the nasal cavity into halves; it is composed of a central supporting skeleton covered on each side by mucous membrane. The front portion of this natural partition is a firm but bendable structure made mostly of cartilage and is covered by skin that has a substantial supply of blood vessels. The ideal nasal septum is exactly midline, separating the left and right sides of the nose into passageways of equal size.
Estimates are that 80 percent of all nasal septums are off-center, a condition that is generally not noticed. A "deviated septum" occurs when the septum is severely shifted away from the midline. The most common symptom from a badly deviated or crooked septum is difficulty breathing through the nose. The symptoms are usually worse on one side, and sometimes actually occur on the side opposite the bend. In some cases the crooked septum can interfere with the drainage of the sinuses, resulting in repeated sinus infections.

Septoplasty is the preferred surgical treatment to correct a deviated septum. This procedure is not generally performed on minors, because the cartilaginous septum grows until around age 18. Septal deviations commonly occur due to nasal trauma.

A deviated septum may cause one or more of the following:

Blockage of one or both nostrils
Nasal congestion, sometimes one-sided
Frequent nosebleeds
Frequent sinus infections
At times, facial pain, headaches, postnasal drip
Noisy breathing during sleep (in infants and young children)
In some cases, a person with a mildly deviated septum has symptoms only when he or she also has a "cold" (an upper respiratory tract infection). In these individuals, the respiratory infection triggers nasal inflammation that temporarily amplifies any mild airflow problems related to the deviated septum. Once the "cold" resolves, and the nasal inflammation subsides, symptoms of a deviated septum often resolve, too.


Diagnosis Of A Deviated Septum: Patients with chronic sinusitis often have nasal congestion, and many have nasal septal deviations. However, for those with this debilitating condition, there may be additional reasons for the nasal airway obstruction. The problem may result from a septal deviation, reactive edema (swelling) from the infected areas, allergic problems, mucosal hypertrophy (increase in size), other anatomic abnormalities, or combinations thereof. A trained specialist in diagnosing and treating ear, nose, and throat disorders can determine the cause of your chronic sinusitis and nasal obstruction.

Your First Visit: After discussing your symptoms, the primary care physician or specialist will inquire if you have ever incurred severe trauma to your nose and if you have had previous nasal surgery. Next, an examination of the general appearance of your nose will occur, including the position of your nasal septum. This will entail the use of a bright light and a nasal speculum (an instrument that gently spreads open your nostril) to inspect the inside surface of each nostril.

Surgery may be the recommended treatment if the deviated septum is causing troublesome nosebleeds or recurrent sinus infections. Additional testing may be required in some circumstances.




Septoplasty: Septoplasty is a surgical procedure performed entirely through the nostrils, accordingly, no bruising or external signs occur. The surgery might be combined with a rhinoplasty, in which case the external appearance of the nose is altered and swelling/bruising of the face is evident. Septoplasty may also be combined with sinus surgery.

The time required for the operation averages about one to one and a half hours, depending on the deviation. It can be done with a local or a general anesthetic, and is usually done on an outpatient basis. After the surgery, nasal packing is inserted to prevent excessive postoperative bleeding. During the surgery, badly deviated portions of the septum may be removed entirely, or they may be readjusted and reinserted into the nose.

If a deviated nasal septum is the sole cause for your chronic sinusitis, relief from this severe disorder will be achieved.





In this section
Diagnosis Of A Deviated Septum
Septoplasty

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Answer 6

I have a deviated septum due to a childhood accident. Fell flat on my face, actually. One nostril is more open than the other one and it affects breathing a bit. It isn't obvious from looking at my nose, though. I've considered getting the surgery to fix it, but it isn't really that big of a problem for me since I've grew up with it.

Answer 7

My husband broke his nose and was told he had a deviated nasal septum.
When I first met him he couldn't smell anything.
He used to have to take decongestants at night to help him sleep or he would get a dreadfully blocked nose.
He used to snore dreadfully.
these problems have all more or less sorted themselves out without surgery but it has taken a long time.
he still gets problems sneezing, he doesn't seem able to sneeze properly, the sneeze doesn't release any blockage so he sneezes again and again.

Answer 8

I had nasal problems last year, fortunately i didn't need surgery. Found this info for you. Hope it helps:

How is it treated?

There are several possible operations that can be performed. These involve moving cartilage and bone or repositioning the cartilage (the gristle). An operation usually lasts less than an hour, but swelling following surgery may delay final improvement for up to six weeks.

Answer 9

I have this waited for surgery a couple of years then chickened out still not had it done what a baby. think i got it since i got punched in the nose find it hard to breath but cant face having it done.

Answer 10

yes.. i have one, but i was born with it, it just means that your nasal passage is crooked... you cant tell with mine unless you look inside... that's why i'm always congested.but im too scared to go under anesthesia