Septoplasty

Septoplasty is a corrective surgical procedure done to straighten the nasal septum.

Nasal septum deviation is a common physical disorder of the nose, involving a displacement of the nasal septum.

Causes

It is most frequently caused by impact trauma, such as by a blow to the face. It can also be a congenital disorder, caused by compression of the nose during childbirth. Deviated septum is associated with genetic connective tissue disorders.

What is a Nasal Septum?

The nasal septum is the bone and cartilage in the nose that separates the nasal cavity into the two nostrils.

The cartilage is called the quadrangular cartilage and the bones comprising the septum include the maxillary crest, vomer and the perpendicular plate of the ethmoid.

Normally, the septum lies centrally, and thus the nasal passages are symmetrical. A deviated septum is an abnormal condition which the top of the cartilaginous ridge leans to the left or the right, causing obstruction of the affected nasal passage.

The condition can result in poor drainage of the sinuses. Patients can also complain of difficulty breathing, headaches, bloody noses, or of sleeping disorders such as snoring or sleep apnea.

Treatment

In most cases a deviated septum can be corrected with a minor surgical procedure known as a septoplasty, in which the surgeon enters through the nostrils and cuts away the obtruding matter via small telescopy.

The surgery is performed quickly (it takes around 1 hour) but the patient should stay in the hospital for 1-2 nights.