Is the deviation of the nasal septum severe?

Written by Li Rui
Otolaryngology
Updated on November 22, 2024
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Deviated nasal septum is generally not too severe. Overall, its harm to health is not significant. Whether a deviated nasal septum is serious depends on individual differences, and one should primarily examine the specific condition inside the nasal cavity. If the degree of deviation is not severe and there are no clinical manifestations, it generally does not require specific treatment, mainly regular reviews to observe any changes. However, if the deviation is quite pronounced and accompanied by clinical symptoms such as headache, dizziness, nasal congestion, or nosebleeds, it may be necessary to consider surgical correction. Currently, the main approach is minimally invasive surgery using an endoscope, and the overall results are quite definitive.

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Written by Yao Jun
Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery
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Does it hurt to remove the stitches from a deviated nasal septum surgery?

Nasal septum deviation is a common surgical procedure in otolaryngology, primarily involving the misalignment of the septal cartilage, which affects the ventilation and drainage of the nasal cavity. This can cause symptoms such as nosebleeds and headaches. Thus, submucous resection of the nasal septum is a routine surgery. Generally, by observing the condition of the wound, if there is no protrusion, tearing, and the alignment is good, it is usually not necessary to stitch. If stitching is done, the stitches are removed after 7 to 8 days. The doctor moistens the nasal cavity with saline, cleaning out any nasal scabs. If pain is a concern, surface anesthesia can be applied using a tetracaine epinephrine cotton swab. Removing the stitches in this way will not be painful. Even without anesthesia, removing stitches feels like a mosquito bite and is not very painful, so there should not be much concern.

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Written by Deng Bang Yu
Otolaryngology
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Can a deviated nasal septum cause nosebleeds?

Deviated nasal septum refers to the fracture of the cartilage of the nasal septum, deviating toward one or both nasal cavities. Patients with a deviated nasal septum are prone to bleeding, and this bleeding tends to recur. This is because after the cartilage of the nasal septum deviates toward one side of the nasal cavity, continuous breathing causes the airflow to rub against the protruding nasal mucosal tissue of the deviated side. Additionally, after the deviation, the nasal mucosal tissue itself becomes thinner. Under these conditions, the thinner mucosal tissue at the deviated part is more likely to rupture and get damaged, making it prone to erosion and bleeding, and the blood vessels are also more likely to rupture, leading to bleeding. In summary, a deviated nasal septum can lead to nosebleeds.

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Written by Zhang Jun
Otolaryngology
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Can a deviated nasal septum be treated without surgery?

Whether surgery is required for a deviated septum primarily depends on the clinical symptoms of the patient. Deviated septum is a common condition in otolaryngology, with over 90% of people having some form of septal deviation. It is mainly caused by abnormal development of the nasal septum during the embryonic stage or by later traumatic injuries, fractures, or pressure from nasal tumors causing the septum to deviate to one or both sides. After the septum deviates, it can lead to persistent nasal congestion and is also associated with pain in the eyes and face, and headaches. A deviated septum can also lead to complications such as sinusitis and nasal polyps. A detailed examination at a hospital, typically using an endoscope, can confirm the diagnosis. If a patient with a deviated septum experiences no symptoms, no treatment may be necessary. However, if the patient suffers from persistent nasal congestion accompanied by headaches, then localized corrective surgery may be required.

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Written by Zhang Jun
Otolaryngology
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How long after septoplasty under general anesthesia can one get out of bed?

After general anesthesia surgery for a deviated nasal septum, patients can freely move in bed after 6 hours, but should wait at least 24 hours before getting out of bed and moving around to avoid the effects of the anesthesia. A deviated nasal septum is a common and frequently occurring condition in otolaryngology, typically caused by congenital abnormalities in the development of the nasal septum. This condition may lead to persistent, progressive nasal congestion on both sides, along with pain in the facial area, headaches, and a deviated nasal septum. It can also trigger nasal sinusitis and nasal polyps in patients. A detailed examination at the hospital with an electronic nasal endoscope and sinus CT scan can provide a diagnosis. In terms of treatment, if a mild nasal septum deviation presents no clinical symptoms, no treatment is necessary. However, if the patient suffers from nasal congestion, headaches, or other related symptoms, local surgical correction may be required. Patients typically recover and are discharged about a week after the surgery.

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Written by Deng Bang Yu
Otolaryngology
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Is surgery necessary for a deviated septum?

Nasal septal deviation refers to the situation where the cartilage and bone tissue of the nasal septum lean toward one side of the nasal cavity, representing a structural deviation. However, having just this deviation is insufficient for a complete diagnosis of a deviated septum. Symptoms such as nasal congestion, nosebleeds, and headaches must also be present to fully diagnose it. Treatment for a nasal septal deviation often involves surgical correction; however, surgery is not necessary for asymptomatic individuals with mere structural deviation. Surgery is opted for cases with structural deviation accompanied by symptoms like nasal congestion, nosebleeds, and headaches.