When the bone and cartilage dividing your nasal\ncavity is off center or crooked, the condition is referred to as a deviated\nseptum. If the deviation is serious enough, it can cause breathing difficulties\nand chronic sinus conditions that require treatment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Most often, a deviated septum is a condition\nthat occurs during birth or fetal development. In other cases, trauma or injury\nto the nose causes the displacement. This is frequently the result of a sports\ninjury or automobile accident. Occasionally, cartilage in the nasal tip\ndeteriorates as we age, producing a deviated septum. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The perfect nasal septum divides the left and\nright nostrils evenly, but this is pretty rare; it\u2019s estimated that about 80\npercent of the population has a septum that is off center to some extent.\nUsually the deviation is slight and goes unnoticed; only the worst cases\nproduce symptoms that affect breathing. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Symptoms include nasal congestion (often limited\nto one side of the nose), frequent nosebleeds and sinus infections, facial pain\nand pressure, headaches, postnasal drip, and noisy breathing or snoring during\nsleep. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
If the deviated septum isn\u2019t too severe, symptoms\nmay respond to treatment with medications. Antihistamines, decongestants and\nnasal steroid sprays can reduce congestion and inflammation in some patients. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
When medicines are ineffective, a surgical\nprocedure known as a septoplasty may be necessary to reposition a crooked\nseptum and improve breathing. This involves removing excess bone or cartilage\nin order to create a larger breathing space, and is typically performed in an\noutpatient setting using local or general anesthesia. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
A rhinoplasty \u2013 surgery to reshape the nose \u2013\nis often performed at the same time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In order to prevent a deviated septum, protect\nyour nose from injury whenever possible. Wear a helmet or facial protection\nwhen playing sports and never ride in a motor vehicle without wearing a\nseatbelt. <\/p>\n\n\n