Deviation of the nasal septum

Deviation of the nasal septum occurs when the thin wall (nasal septum) between the nasal passages is displaced to one side.

What is the nasal septum?

The nasal septum is a dividing wall that internally divides the nose into the right and left nasal cavities. Anatomically, it consists of cartilage and bone. The cartilage is called the quadrilateral cartilage, while the bony parts consist of the vomer, the perpendicular plate of the ethmoid bone and the maxillary and palatine crests.

How is deviation of the nasal septum caused?

The most common cause of deviation is injury to the nose (traffic accident, sports injuries). Another common cause is hereditary. Other rarer causes involve connective tissue diseases (Marfan syndrome, homocystinuria, etc.).

What symptoms does deviation of the nasal septum cause?

The main symptom is difficulty in nasal breathing. Other problems are headache, sinusitis episodes, dysfunction of the Eustachian tube, sleep disorders - snoring or even sleep apnea syndrome with effects on the cardiorespiratory system.

Can another condition coexist with deviation?

Often, some form of allergic rhinitis coexists with deviation of the nasal septum. This results in swelling of the mucous membrane of the nasal turbinates (hypertrophy of the nasal turbinates). This causes further difficulty in nasal breathing.

How can deviation of the nasal septum be treated?

In mild cases, symptoms of nasal obstruction are usually treated with the administration of pharmaceutical substances, such as antihistamines and decongestants. These pharmaceutical substances can temporarily relieve symptoms, but they cannot correct the problem. The usual treatment includes a surgical procedure, called septoplasty. Septal straightening is usually combined with cauterization of the nasal turbinates with radiofrequencies.

How long does the entire procedure last and how is it performed?

The average surgical time is about one hour. The procedure is mainly performed under general anesthesia. The incisions are made inside the nose (intranasally) without any alteration of the external shape of the nose. There is no post-operative swelling or bruising. After the operation, two special nasal tampons are placed (one in each nostril), which are removed 24 hours later, i.e. early the next morning.

Is the operation painful?

The operation is painless. The usual complaints are dryness of the oral cavity, postoperative headache and tears in the eyes, especially during the first 24 hours due to the presence of the nasal tampons. After their removal, these symptoms subside to a great extent.

How long is the stay in the Clinic?

After the nasal congestion is removed, the patient leaves the Clinic. The average stay in the Clinic is 24 hours.

How long is the recovery period?

Recovery lasts on average from 2 to 3 weeks. As mentioned above, there is no visible external swelling in the nose or face. On the contrary, there is a feeling of stuffiness in the nose, which gradually subsides from day to day. There is also no pain at all. The final result of improved breathing becomes noticeable after about a month.

Is it easy to remove nasal congestion?

Today, with the use of modern nasal congestion (Merocel), removal is quick and painless.

When can one return to work?

Return to work always depends on the type and severity of the work. In cases where the work is office-based, the patient can comfortably return to work 2 days postoperatively. On the contrary, if the work is manual, then a longer rest of 7 to 10 days is required.

Is postoperative monitoring necessary?

Usually, an average of 4 postoperative visits to the doctor's office are required. During these visits, the nose is carefully cleaned of postoperative crusts and secretions. This cleaning is painless and takes less than 5 minutes each time.

Are there any complications of the operation?

Fortunately, complications are rare. They are divided into complications during the operation (intraoperative) and those after the operation (postoperative). The main intraoperative complications include complications from general anesthesia and intraoperative nosebleeds. The most common postoperative complications are postoperative nosebleeds, hematoma or abscess of the nasal septum, perforation of the nasal septum and the formation of intranasal adhesions.