Deviation of the Septum

The curvature of the Nose – Deviation of the Septum

The nasal septum is a wall that divides the nasal cavity in half. The anterior part of the septum is made up of cartilage, and the posterior part is made up of bone. The fact that there is a curvature in the middle wall of the nose in one direction is called septum deviation.

In ideal conditions, the septum should be located in the middle line, and the right and left nasal cavities should be equal in width. However, in most people, the septum is not exactly in the midline; slight curvatures exist. It is defined as a disease in which all or part of the septum is significantly curved, shifts from the midline, and affects breathing.

There is no cavity, such as an intra-nasal tube, but three pieces of flesh, also called turbinates, on each side. Nasal congestion becomes more pronounced if there is growth and swelling of the turbinates, that is, hypertrophy and curvature in the septum.

The air passage decreases on the curved side. The curvature can block both noses, and the more deviation in the nose is more nasal congestion. When one side is blocked, patients are usually not too uncomfortable.

What is the Cause of Septum Deviation?

This partition, which is usually straight and divides the nasal cavity into two, right and left, can be curved genetically and congenitally, as well as due to subsequent blows. This curvature in the nose can also be caused by bone or cartilage. The terms mean in the nose, bone, and cartilage in the nose are other names used among the people Dec.

Just as babies are born with a structural deviation of the septum, the deviation can also occur with trauma during the baby’s passage through the birth canal.

While bumps, falls, and injuries in childhood do not cause complaints at that time, the development of bone and cartilage parts of the septum at different speeds as a result of these traumas in the growing age may cause deviation. Genetically, nose shape differences and deviations become apparent in some people in adulthood.

If the Nose Is Curved from the Outside, Is There a Deviation?

The bone that forms the back of the nose and the bone and cartilage that make up the middle wall, which we call the septum, are different structures. The fact that the nose roof is curved from the outside only sometimes means that there is a deviation inside. If there is a deviation in the nose, it can be in a different direction than the external curvature of the nose.

What Complaints Does Septum Deviation Cause, and What Are the Symptoms?

The most prominent complaint of septum deviation is nasal congestion and difficulty breathing through the nose, which can lead to difficulty breathing in one nose or two noses.

In some people with mild septum deviation, symptoms only appear when they have a cold. The swelling caused by a respiratory infection in the nasal tissues makes the mild degree of obstruction, which is usually not noticeable, noticeable.

Nasal congestion seriously impairs the quality of life of a person. Problems caused by septum deviation:

• Snoring, apnea,
• Accumulation of fluid in the ear,
• Eustachian tube obstruction,
• Recurrent nosebleeds,
• Recurrent sinusitis, pharyngitis, bronchitis,
• Single or double-sided nasal congestion,
• Deterioration in voice quality, speaking through the nose,
• Pain in the facial area, headache, nasal discharge,

Who Should Suspect a Deviated Septum?

It is necessary to have a detailed ENT examination, as people suffering from nasal congestion, difficulty breathing through the nose, snoring, sleeping with their mouth open, frequent sinusitis, headache, olfactory impairment, and sleep disorders may have a deviated septum.

How is Septum Deviation Diagnosed?

Patients with the complaints mentioned above should be examined for septum deviation. By endoscopic examination of the inside of the nose, the diagnosis of septum deviation and other diseases that lead to nasal congestion can be made quickly and accurately.

How is the Septum Deviation – Curvature Treatment Process?

Since the treatment of septum deviation is a surgical operation, septoplasty surgery is performed. Under general anesthesia, the curved section is reached from the inside of the nose. The curved parts in the bone or cartilage section are removed or corrected.

The flesh of the nose, called the turbinate, which is usually enlarged on the lighter side, is also treated by reducing it. In this operation, the deviation can be corrected without changing the shape of the nose. If the person is also uncomfortable with the shape of the nose, aesthetic and functional problems can be eliminated by a surgery called septorhinoplasty.

How Long Does Septum Deviation Surgery Take?

Septum deviation treatment is an operation that lasts 45 minutes under normal conditions. In previous years, long cloth tampons in the form of strips placed in the nose after surgery were no longer used. The operation is completed by removing self-dissolving sutures.

Does the Nasal Bone Grow Back After Septoplasty?

After the operation is performed following the rules, the curved nasal bone and cartilage do not grow back. The success of septoplasty surgery is about 90%.

How Is the Recovery Process After Septoplasty Surgery?

Since the tampon was not placed after the operation, the operation of removing the tampon, which was a fearful dream, has also disappeared. Since self-absorbing stitches are used, there is no need to take stitches, and the patient’s postoperative dressings and care are very easy.

In the early period of the operation, some bloody leakage from the nose in the first two days and nasal congestion in the first week is expected. They can return to their jobs in a few days without needing the patient hospitalized after surgery.

What Should Be Considered After Surgery?

• Care should be taken against bumps that may come to the nose to avoid any nose trauma after surgery.
• Care should be taken not to blow for the first few weeks. Light blowing can be started a few weeks after the operation.
• Care should be taken not to hold the sneeze and sneeze with the mouth open.
• Swelling and feeling of fullness in the nose decrease within a few weeks after surgery.
• Depending on the healing of the surgical site, crusting may occur in the nose; this condition may persist for 3-6 weeks.
• To reduce swelling and fullness, instead of lying flat, it is helpful to sleep in positions where the head is held 30 degrees above the heart level.
• It should not be showered with too much hot water, and exercises such as running and swimming should be avoided for a while.

What Happens If the Septum Deviation Is Not Treated?

Patients with a deviated septum and nasal congestion, snoring, mouth breathing, and frequent attacks of pharyngitis should be treated by performing septoplasty. If they are not treated, poor-quality sleep, low oxygen capacity, snoring, breathing stops during sleep, sleep disorders, dry throat, chronic pharyngitis attacks, and nosebleeds are often observed.

Unfortunately, this disease, which leads to severe problems, is poorly understood by patients and is mainly confused with aesthetic surgeries. At this point, it should be remembered that people who do not have a problem breathing through the nose may also have a lousy nose appearance and may undergo plastic surgery. However, in patients with septum curvature and deformity, both intranasal curvatures are corrected with a single operation, and the extra-nasal can also be shaped with aesthetic surgery.