Nasal septum deviation

A deviated septum (also deviated septum ) is a deformation or lateral displacement of the nasal septum (septum nasi), which is usually congenital, but also by an injury (trauma ) can be conditional.

According to the American Academy of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery 80 percent of people have a slightly shifted laterally from the median plane nasal septum, the occurrence may therefore be regarded as physiological. This mild form of the deviated septum is usually asymptomatic.

Symptoms

A high grade Nasenseptumdeviation is almost always associated with a hyperplasia of the nasal turbinates and leads to a (mostly one-sided ) nasal obstruction. It should be noted that the natural turbinate size depends on the available to them nasal cavity space. Depending on the turbinate size, it may thereby increasing shortness of breath (dyspnea ) and chronic infections such as sinus infections (sinusitis), inflammation of the throat ( pharyngitis) or inflammation of the tonsils (tonsillitis ) can occur.

In the less ventilated, close and warm nose automatically more germs accumulate. These are mostly viruses and bacteria. The nasal mucosa is responding with an increased mucus production. It comes to a runny nose (rhinitis ) or a cold. In this moist environment, the bacteria proliferate and drive the production of mucus in the nasal mucosa always more, making a total of swallowing can also occur.

Furthermore, frequent otitis media and external auditory canal inflammation caused indirectly by a nasal obstruction. A negative pressure via the Eustachian tube into the middle ear produces what is often perceived by the patient as itching or foreign body sensation and often causes ear canal manipulations with which the patient's ear canal inflammation to - Because hinders the nasal anatomy a blocked nose, is every act of swallowing - especially at night while sleeping prepare the ground. Prevents the deviated septum also sufficient ventilation of the olfactory cleft, olfactory disorders are possible. Also, nosebleeds ( epistaxis) with pronounced spur formation of the nasal septum occur with contact with the nasal turbinates and rare headaches. The sleep is disturbed by insomnia and snoring because of disabilities or severe nasal breathing.

Typically, the affected patients prefer to sleep on one side of the body, on the Nasenseptumdeviation their lies. A sleep apnea syndrome may be favored.

Thus, the quality of life can be severely limited by a high degree of septal deviation. By means of an operation can usually a strong improvement can be achieved (see below therapy). The cost of a rhinoplasty are covered by health insurance, as this is a medically necessary procedure and no plastic surgery.

Diagnosis

The diagnosis of a deviated septum is provided by external inspection of the nose, anterior rhinoscopy, endoscopy or computed tomography ( CT). How strong a deviated septum obstructs the nasal breathing can be measured using a rhinomanometry. In addition, an olfactory test should be performed.

Therapy

When the symptoms described occurrence may be useful surgical correction ( septoplasty or septal resection ) with straightening of the nasal septum and a shell correction. Depending on the severity is an outpatient treatment possible. Is the shift, however, bone tissue involved, as may be required in-patient treatment.