Deviated Septum

The nasal cavity is split laterally by the septum, a thin wall of bone and cartilage. Whenever this wall between nasal cavities shifts significantly off-center, it’s called a deviated septum. While no one’s alignment is perfectly centered, a severe shift in position can lead to many symptoms and, if left untreated, complications.

Symptoms of a Deviated Septum

• Nasal Blockages: Blockage of one or both nostrils, impacting breathing.

• Frequent Nosebleeds: Deviations cause the surface of the septum to be drier than usual, leading to more frequent nosebleeds.

• Facial Pain: Often occurring on one side of the face, deviated septums can cause pain and pressure.

• Noisy Breathing: One of the more common symptoms is loud breathing, especially when sleeping.

• Sleep Position Preference: A favored sleeping position or side that improves breathing.

These symptoms can affect the quality of your daily life, and ignoring them can worsen the underlying condition.

Deviated septums can have many causes, but the most common are:

• Birth defects
• Trauma or injury
• Sinus and nasal infections
• Surgery
• Genetic factors and family history
• Connective tissue disorders
• Tumors or growths

Especially for those who develop this condition after an injury, the symptoms of a deviated septum may not be noticeable immediately but become more pronounced and noticeable over time. As this condition can worsen, seeking medical advice as soon as symptoms appear is important.

An ENT specialist will perform a thorough evaluation to diagnose and treat this condition, typically with a physical examination of your nose and an endoscope or nasal speculum.

• Medication: Treatment often begins with medications that work to manage your symptoms. These can include:
  • Decongestants to help reduce swelling
  • Antihistamines for any allergies contributing to inflammation and congestion
  • Nasal steroid sprays, which reduce inflammation and provide relief

While medications can’t correct the structural issue causing the deviation, they can relieve symptoms.

• Surgery (Septoplasty): When the symptoms are sufficiently severe, surgery might be a treatment option. Septoplasty is a surgical procedure used to correct a deviated septum where the surgeon straightens and repositions the septum.In some cases, the surgeon will surgically remove parts of the septum to achieve the optimal alignment.

Because of its minimally invasive nature, septoplasty is performed under general anesthesia, with most patients returning home the same day.

• Recovery: Following surgery, you should expect swelling and discomfort that typically subsides within a few weeks.
• Breathing: After recovery, many patients experience significant improvements in their breathing and fewer symptoms like snoring and congestion.