Deviated septum

A deviated septum is a common physical disorder of the nose, most frequently caused by impact trauma, such as by a blow to the face. It can also be congenital.

The nasal septumis the membranous ridge of cartilagein the nose that separates the nasal cavityinto the two nostrils. Normally, the septum lies centrally, and thus the nasal passages are symmetrical. A deviated septum is an abnormal condition in which the top of the cartilaginous ridge leans to the left or the right, causing obstruction of the affected nasal passage. The condition can result in poor drainage of the sinuses, leading to frequent infectionsor the growth of nasal polyps. Patientscan also complain of difficulty breathingeasily, or of sleeping disorders such as snoringor apnoea.

It is common for nasal septums to depart from the exact centreline; the septum is only considered deviated if the shift is substantial or is adversely affecting the patient. Many people with a deviation are unaware they have it until some discomfortis produced. But by itself a deviated septum can go for years without being detected and thus be without any real need for correction.

In most cases a deviated septum can be corrected with a minor surgical procedure known as a septoplasty, which enters through the nostrils and cuts away the obtruding matter. The surgery is performed quickly but the patient may take several days to recover.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License.
It uses material from the http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deviated+septum Wikipedia article Deviated septum.