Repairing A Deviated Septum
Repairing A Deviated Septum
As exotic a condition as it sounds, a deviated septum is fairly common. In fact, it’s estimated that up to 80% of people have a deviated septum.
In many cases, the symptoms are so mild that a person may be unaware he or she has the condition. That’s the best-case scenario.
But for others, a deviated septum could be interfering with their quality of life. Fortunately, there’s an effective procedure for repairing a deviated septum.
What Is a Deviated Septum?
The bone and cartilage that divide the nasal cavity in half are collectively known as the nasal septum. In an ideal world, the septum would run a straight line so each of the breathing passages leading to the nostrils would be equal.
But how many of us are living in an ideal world? (Hint: Nobody.)
The reality is, most of us have a septum that’s at least a little crooked or off-center. In other words, deviated. You may have been born with this condition or it developed over time. Perhaps the imbalance could be the result of an injury to the nose from playing sports, falling, or getting hit in an accident or a fight. (So much for that ideal world.)
Fortunately, many of us aren’t aware of a deviated septum because it’s not visibly noticeable or doesn’t cause any difficulty in breathing. For a handful of folks, however, a deviated septum could be causing significant issues.
Symptoms Of A Deviated Septum
We all experience nasal congestion from time to time. Sinus discomfort isn’t completely foreign to most of us either. For those with a seriously deviated septum, however, difficulty breathing through one side of the nose and recurrent sinus infections are the norm. They may also experience frequent headaches, facial pain, nosebleeds, and postnasal drip.
Then there’s the issue of slumber. A deviated septum can disrupt sleep by causing the sufferer to breathe loudly or to snore. This can further lead to apnea – a dangerous condition wherein the person stops breathing altogether during sleep.
While there are medications that may alleviate some of the less serious symptoms, surgery is often the chosen option for those who repeatedly suffer with deviated septum symptoms.
Repairing A Deviated Septum
The surgical procedure for repairing a deviated septum is called septoplasty and it’s fairly straightforward.
During septoplasty, the patient is given either general anesthesia or intravenous sedation. Which one is administered will depend on the surgeon’s recommendations.
For a septoplasty that’s performed without other procedures, the incisions are typically within the naval cavity. In situations where the septoplasty is performed with a rhinoplasty, the surgeon may make a small incision across the narrow strip of tissue that separates the nostrils (also known as the columella).
The tissue covering the septum – the nasal mucosal lining – is then elevated to make the deviated septum visible. While maintaining the shape of the nose, the skilled surgeon either removes or reshapes the crooked or deviated section of the bone and cartilage.
Once it is straightened, the mucosal lining is repositioned around it and the incision is sutured back together. Splints may or may not be placed inside the nose to keep the septum in place and reduce scar tissue formation during healing.
That’s all there is to it!
Think You May Benefit From Septoplasty?
If any of the above-mentioned symptoms are altering your quality of life, repairing a deviated septum may be the solution.
So contact us today.
During your free consultation, we’ll determine whether you’re a good candidate for septoplasty surgery. And within three to six months, you could be breathing a whole lot easier.