What is Nasal Bone Curvature (Septoplasty, Septum Deviation)?
The nasal septum is a wall that divides the nasal cavity in half. The front part of the septum consists of cartilage and the back part consists of bone. Under ideal conditions, the septum should be located in the midline and the right and left nasal cavities should be of equal width. However, in most people, the septum is not exactly in the midline and there are slight curvatures. Such mild curvatures do not cause any complaints. The disease is defined as the whole or part of the septum being significantly curved and shifting from the midline and affecting breathing. The greater the deviation, the more nasal congestion occurs.
There is no space inside the nose like a pipe, but there are three pieces of meat called turbinates on each side. If there is growth and swelling, that is, hypertrophy, in the turbinates along with the curvature of the septum, nasal congestion becomes more obvious.
What are the symptoms of Septum Deviation?
The most common symptom of septum deviation is difficulty breathing through the nose. It may cause difficulty breathing in one or both noses. In some people with mild septal deviation, symptoms only appear during colds.
The swelling caused by respiratory tract infection in the nasal tissues makes mild congestion, which is normally not noticed, apparent.
Nasal congestion seriously impairs a person's quality of life.
Septum deviation can cause the following problems:
Unilateral or bilateral nasal congestion
Recurrent nosebleeds
Recurrent sinusitis, pharyngitis, bronchitis, otitis
Facial pain, headache, postnasal drip
Deterioration in voice quality, nasal speech
Snoring, apnea
Eustachian tube obstruction, fluid accumulation in the ear
How is Septum Deviation Diagnosed?
Diagnosis of septal deviation is made by detailed endoscopic examination of the nose.
How to Treat Septum Deviation?
The only treatment option for nasal midline bone curvature is surgery. The curvature of the nasal bone is corrected with a surgery called septoplasty. It is often performed under general anesthesia for patient comfort.
The operation time is 30-45 minutes, excluding anesthesia. The surgical incision is made through the nose. Bones blocking the nasal air passage are removed, and cartilage curvatures, if they can be corrected, are corrected and replaced. If there is swelling in the nasal concha, it is corrected in the same operation. The airway is opened. Nasal packing is often applied after surgery. However, silicone tampons with air channels are mostly preferred recently. Since the patient gets air with these tampons, the postoperative period is more comfortable.
Since it is silicone, the removal process of tampons is also easier. As a result of this surgery, there is no skin incision or shape change in the external structure of the nose. There is no bruising or swelling under the eyes.
