What is septoplasty?
Septoplasty is a surgical procedure, performed mainly by Ear, Nose and Throat surgeon to correct and realign nasal septum deviation.
Nasal septum deviation
The nasal septum consists of three main parts: membranous, bony, and cartilaginous. The septum divides the nasal cavity into two equal parts. If the nasal septum deviation was mild, this usually will not cause any major or noticeable problems. If the deviation was moderate or severe, the patient may complain of multiple problems like:
- Difficulty breathing especially while sleeping
- Snoring and dry mouth
- Sleep apnea
- Repetitive sinus infections
- Recurrent epistaxis
What causes the deviated nasal septum?
Nasal septum deviation can present at birth or at any stage of life. For the newborn, a trauma during delivery could be the reason for the deviated septum, or as a part of other congenital malformations.
In older children and adults, the septum of the nose can be deviated after face or nasal trauma as may happen in:
- Car accidents
- Intense sports that may cause a blow to the nose
- Fall injury
In older age the deviated septum could be part of the aging process, as the deviation may worsens while getting old.
Prevalence of nasal septum deviation
Nasal septum deviation is a common complaint among the populations. Some papers and studies suggest that septal deviation and nasal obstruction are reported by nearly 70% of the general populations.
