Nasal Septum Deviation Animation

Deviated Nose Septum

Definition of nasal septum deviation

Nasal septum (nose septum) is a structure consisting of cartilage and bone, which divides the nasal cavity vertically into two separate cavities. This septum is referred to as the "nasal septum deviation / nasal cartilage / nose septum curvature". In the adjacent photograph, it is seen that the right nasal passage is completely closed, depending on the curvature to the right, in the front part of the nasal septum. Because of mechanical obstruction, treatment this curvature is not possible with medical treatment.

Patients with nasal septum deviations may experience symptoms such as nasal obstruction, mouth-to-mouth sleep, throat instability, frequent sinusitis attacks, snoring, and more relaxed sleep when the patient is lying to the side of his deviation during sleep.

Nasal septum deviation can be mild or severe. Some patients may not have any symptoms.  Approximately 90% of patients presenting with nasal obstruction complain of septum deviation.

Endoscopic nasal examination can allow easily to diagnosing of nasal septum deviations.

Nasal septum deviation treatment can be done with a simple surgical procedure, known as septoplasty surgery, lasting 10-20 minutes.

Causes of nasal septum deviation

The causes of nasal septum deviation can be summarized as follows:

- congenital i.e. genetic causes

- nasal trauma (may occur due to compression in the womb, possible compression in the birth canal or trauma and postnatal nasal trauma).

Sometimes, after childhood nasal traumas, the nasal septum deviation in the nose may increase in severity during the growth phase. This may be due to asymmetric injury of the growth areas in the nasal septum and greater growth on one side than the other.

Symptoms of nasal septum deviation

In patients with nasal septum deviation, when the nasal passage is narrowed, mainly nasal congestion and related symptoms (dry mouth, deterioration in sleep quality, tiredness or feeling of low energy during the day, snoring, decrease in smell ....) may occur.

Nasal septum deviation treatment

In the treatment of nasal septum deviation, the curved areas in the nasal septum and the areas closing the airway are excised by submucosal dissection. The surgical techniques and operations used here are called septoplasty, submucous resection or deviation operation. The main aim is to resect only the curved cartilage and bone areas in the nasal septum, to protect the remaining septum, and minimal surgical trauma.

Indications for surgical treatment of nasal septum deviation

Surgery is not required for everyone with nasal septum deviation. Surgical procedure can be planned for nasal septum deviations, which cause various symptoms in patients by causing nasal congestion. In order to understand this, patients with septum deviation can be asked roughly the following questions:

- Is the air you breathe through your nose enough while climbing the stairs, do you have to breathe with your mouth open?

- do you keep your mouth open while you sleep?

- Is the air you breathe through your nose enough while walking or running fast? Do you have to breathe with your mouth open?

The above questions can also be asked in patients with only turbinate hypertrophy or nasal polyps, but medical treatment is usually answered and the patient can be satisfied. In addition, medical treatment is ineffective in septum deviation. If these questions are answered "yes, I can't stand without opening my mouth and breathing" and this situation does not change with medical treatment, a surgical procedure can be planned.

Nasal septum deviation operation fee

The total cost of nasal septum deviation operation varies between 1750 - 2500 US Dollars. Generally, the transaction fee may vary according to the hospitals. If additional surgeries such as turbinate resection and nasal tip aesthetics are performed during the procedure, the total procedure fee may increase.

Can Nasal Septum Deviation be Corrected by Massage or Manual Pressure?

On the Internet and on Instagram, I came across videos showing that patients with nasal septum deviation are performed "manual nasal septum correction" by applying pressure from the outside of the nose or inserting a finger into the nose. I would like to emphasize here that by inserting a finger into the nose, you can lateralize the turbinates, but it is not possible to correct the curved sections of the septum. The nasal septum has cartilage and bone. Surgical excision of the curved parts is required. Likewise, it is not possible to permanently correct intranasal pathologies by pressing the nose from the outside. There may only be a temporary reduction in nasal septum deviation, but there is a risk that it will become worse than before. Trying to correct such a problem with massage or physiotherapy techniques without consulting an otolaryngologist may cause serious problems.

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Murat Enoz, MD, Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgeon - ENT Doctor in Istanbul

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