What is a deviated septum?
The septum is the midline wall of cartilage and bone that separates the two nasal passages. When this wall is bent to one side, it is called a deviated septum. It may be present from birth or develop after nasal trauma. Mild deviations are very common and need no treatment if they cause no complaints; problems begin when the deviation significantly blocks airflow.
What are the symptoms?
The most common symptom is nasal obstruction, usually more pronounced on one side. Mouth breathing, snoring, poor sleep quality, recurrent sinusitis attacks, post-nasal drip and a feeling of breathlessness during exertion may accompany it. People with long-standing one-sided blockage are often so used to it that they are unaware; the diagnosis is made by examining the inside of the nose, with endoscopic evaluation when needed.
Other causes of nasal obstruction
Not every blocked nose is caused by the septum. Enlarged turbinates, allergic rhinitis, nasal polyps and chronic sinusitis produce similar complaints and frequently coexist with a deviation. An accurate treatment plan requires identifying which cause — often more than one — is responsible.
Septoplasty surgery
Septoplasty straightens the bent cartilage and bone to open the airway. It is performed through the nostrils, leaves no external scar and does not change the outer shape of the nose. Enlarged turbinates are reduced in the same session when present. If a change in nasal shape is also desired, septoplasty can be planned together with rhinoplasty (septorhinoplasty). Mild congestion and discharge are normal in the first days after surgery; most patients return to daily life within a few days, and breathing improves progressively as the swelling subsides.
For details on nose reshaping, see the Rhinoplasty page.
This article is for general information purposes only; please consult your physician for diagnosis and treatment.