Deviated Septum

What is a Deviated Septum?

Injury or trauma to the nose can cause the wall between the two sides of your nose, which is called the nasal septum to become deviated or crooked. However, even people with normal growth and development, and without a history of injury, trauma, or broken nose, can have a deviated septum.

A CT scan of a patient with a deviated septum credit: Mike Berkin

 

Deviated Septum Symptoms

Having difficulty breathing through your nose which is usually worse on one side may mean you have a deviated nasal septum. In some cases, a deviated septum may lead to impairment of sinus drainage and cause repeated sinus infections. You may experience one or more of the following:

• Difficulty breathing through one or both nostrils
• Nosebleeds
• Sinus infections
• Noisy breathing during sleep
• Mouth-breathing during sleep in adults

Septoplasty is a simple outpatient procedure performed through the nostrils, usually no bruising or visible signs of surgery. Often at the same time the turbinates, which act like humidifiers in the nose, if enlarged may be contributing to a blocked nose and may be reduced in size to allow for better breathing through your nose.  Contact your ENT today.