Deviated Nasal Septum
En Español (Spanish Version)The nasal septum is the wall that separates the left and right nostrils. A centered septum allows air to flow equally through each nostril. In a deviated nasal septum, the wall is not centered.
A deviated septum may cause no symptoms at all. In severe cases, airflow through one or both nostrils may be blocked. A blocked nostril may cause chronic stuffiness and a tendency to get
sinus infections
.
Deviated Septum
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Causes include:
- Present at birth—arose during fetal development (5% of cases)
- Birth injury to the nose
- A blow to the nose, often during an accident or while playing sports
Risk factors include:
- Contact sports, especially karate or football without appropriate protective headgear
- Trauma
is the most common risk factor
Symptoms include:
- Stuffy nose (one or both sides)
- Sinus infections
- Nosebleeds
- Breathing noisily during sleep
- Facial pain or headache
The doctor will ask about your symptoms and medical history. A physical exam will be done. The doctor will examine the nasal passages. A nasal speculum will hold the nose open. A thin telescope is passed into the nose.
Most people will not require treatment. In severe cases, surgery may be needed. Surgery on the septum alone is called
septoplasty
. It relieves nasal blockage by centering the septum between the two nostrils.
Sometimes surgery to reshape the nose (
rhinoplasty
) is performed at the same time. The two procedures together are called septorhinoplasty. Children who need surgery usually wait until they have stopped growing, around age 16.
To help prevent a deviated septum:
- Wear seat belts in automobiles and airplanes
- Wear appropriate protective headgear when playing sports
American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery
HealthFinder, US Department of Health and Human Services
Canadian Society of Otolaryngology
The Canadian Society of Plastic Surgeons
Beers MH, Berkow R, et al.
Merck Manual of Diagnosis and Therapy
. 17
th
ed. Whitehouse Station, NJ: Merck and Company;1999.
Fact sheet: deviated septum. American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery website. Available at:
http://www.entnet.org/HealthInformation/deviatedSeptum.cfm
.
Accessed July 24, 2008.
Last Reviewed March 2013