The nasal septum is the band of cartilage that separates the two nostrils. Normally, the septum should be in the center of the two nasal passages to make it look symmetrical. But in the case of deviated septum, the cartilage abnormally inclines either to the left or right, thus, blocking the one nasal passage. Deviation of the nasal septum is a common physical defect. It may be congenital (present at birth), usually due to septum compression during childbirth, or it may be cause by physical trauma such as a hard blow on the face causing septum deviation.

Symptoms

In most cases of deviated septum, people are not actually aware of their condition as a slight deviation does not cause symptoms that are noticeable. But there are also some incidences that it would lead to severe symptoms such as difficulty in breathing, poor sinus drainage, recurrent sinusitis, nasal congestion, nosebleeds, headache, facial pain, and sleep apnea. For such cases, a surgery is usually required to correct the nasal disorder.

Surgery

Deviated septum surgery, also known as septoplasty, is a procedure that involves in straightening the nasal septum. It can also be performed together with, depending upon the case, other nose surgeries such as rhinoplasty and sinus surgery. Septoplasty is actually an easy procedure as it does not require any significant external incisions in the nose.

General or local anesthesia is first administered before the surgery. The deviated septum with the bone tissues are then readjusted to its proper alignment. Problematic tissues may also be removed if it is necessary, depending on the severity of the case. The procedure usually takes about only an hour. After the surgery is completed, the nostrils are introduced with nasal packing to prevent more bleeding. The surgeon may also

Recovery

The deviated septum surgery recovery period is also easy as the surgery. It is common to have mild swelling and bleeding for the first few days after surgery. The dressing should be frequently changed to minimize chances of infections. When the bleeding stops, the nasal packing is also removed.

Nasal irrigation using saline solution is also performed during the recovery period. Blowing of the nose harshly should be avoided. The patient may resume to work within 3 to 7 days after the surgery. However, septoplasty recovery time may also be extended if the surgery is combined with other surgical procedures. In most cases, patients usually recover fully without any complications from deviated septum surgery as long as the proper guidelines and precautions have been followed.