Over 90% of individuals are born with a deviated septum but most will not be symptomatic until they are teenagers or older. Most deviated septums can occur from trauma during birth during delivery. Sometimes breaking your nose can also impact the septum and cause it to be deviated. If the deviated septum is causing severe nasal obstruction that is not responsive to nasal steroid sprays and saline rinses then it may need to be corrected with a “septoplasty.”
Your septum is the structure extends vertically down the center of your nose and separates your nostrils. It is made of bone and cartilage. When a septoplasty is performed the deviated portion of bone and cartilage is removed to open up the airway. This is done by preserving the mucosa (tissue) overlying the cartilage.
A septoplasty is an outpatient procedure and can vary in length from 1-2 hours. Silicone splints may be placed in each nostril afterwards to allow the septum to heal for one week and then will be removed in the office. It is important to use nasal saline rinses after the surgery to prevent crusting.
Inferior Turbinate Hypertrophy
In addition to correcting the septum, the inferior turbinates are often reduced at the same time. Your inferior turbinates are a bulge in each side of your nasal cavity that look like polyps but are normal structures made of mucosa and bone. They can be enlarged in some people, occupy space and can enlarge in people with allergies. They are responsible for directing airflow and also have some smell receptors. They can be reduced by a number of techniques. Dr. Baktha uses a Coblator needle that is inserted at various points in the turbinate and causes the inside mucosa to shrink with low heat. This preserves the mucosa. Afterwards, the turbinate is “outfractured” or forced outward to provide more space in the nasal cavity. Other techniques involve inserting a shaver, called a “microdebrider” underneath the mucosa and debriding the tissue to deflate the turbinate.
