Deviated Septum Treatment Available for Biloxi & Ocean Springs, MS Patients
What problems can a deviated septum cause?
A deviated septum occurs when the nasal septum (the bone and cartilage which divides the nasal cavity of the nose in half) is crooked or off-center, making it difficult to breathe. This condition is not uncommon. A deviated septum may occur at birth, or as the result of trauma or injury to the nose. Some estimates indicate that 80% of all people have some sort of misalignment of their nasal septum. However, only the most severe misalignments will cause significant breathing problems and require treatment.
Symptoms of a deviated septum include nasal congestion and difficulty breathing. A deviated septum may lead to recurrent sinus infections, nosebleeds, facial pain, headache, loud breathing, snoring, and even sleep apnea (a serious condition in which a person stops breathing while asleep).
Medical Treatment
Your sinus care specialist may prescribe a nasal decongestant to help relieve symptoms related to a deviated septum. This may help to reduce nasal tissue swelling, thereby opening the airways on both sides of the nose.
Antihistamine treatment may also be an option. Antihistamines can help prevent allergy symptoms, such as obstruction and runny nose (rhinorrhea).
Prescription nasal corticosteroid sprays may help reduce inflammation in the nasal passage causing the obstruction or drainage.
It is important to note that medications only treat the swollen mucus membranes, but won't correct a deviated septum.
Surgical Treatment
Septoplasty is a surgical procedure during which a small incision is made in the septum and removes the excess bone or cartilage required to even out the nostrils. Surgery to correct a deviated septum is usually performed in an outpatient setting under local or general anesthesia. Patients can expect to return home within a few hours.
Rhinoplasty (or a “nose job”) may sometimes be combined with septoplasty to improve the overall appearance of the nose.
Balloon septoplasty is a newer, in-office procedure that corrects milder cases of deviated septum without resorting to traditional surgical methods.
