Deviated Nasal Septum

The nasal septum is a structure made of cartilage and bone that divides the nasal cavity into two sides. It is lined by a mucous membrane and normally allows for streamlined, aerodynamic airflow through the nose. A deviated nasal septum occurs when the nasal septum is crooked to some degree, and protrudes into one side of the nose more than the other. The nasal septum can become deviated during birth, or more frequently as a result of trauma to the nose. Most people (up to 80%) have some mild degree of deviation in their nasal septum, and often this condition goes unnoticed without causing any symptoms. However, in some cases where the deviation is severe or associated with other nasal conditions such as turbinate hypertrophy or allergic rhinitis, a deviated nasal septum can cause a variety of troublesome symptoms such as nasal blockage, facial pain/pressure, headache, nasal congestion, snoring, nasal drainage, nosebleeds, and chronic sinus infections.

The diagnosis of a deviated nasal septum is made by your Capitol ENT physician after taking your history and performing a physical exam. The physical exam includes a thorough inspection of the external and internal anatomy of the nose. Often, an instrument called a nasal speculum is used to gently widen the nostril so that the nasal cavity can be inspected. This maneuver is painless and is nothing to worry about. Sometimes, a nasal endoscopy will be performed to visualize the internal nasal cavity in its entirety, depending on the nature of your symptoms.

If the symptoms are affecting your quality of life significantly, surgical correction of your deviated nasal septum may be recommended. The procedure is called a septoplasty and is performed on an outpatient basis, generally taking between 60-90 minutes to complete. Click on the link to learn more.

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