How to relieve a deviated nasal septum?

Written by Li Rui
Otolaryngology
Updated on December 19, 2024
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The decision is mainly based on the severity of the deviation. If it is just a simple nasal septum deviation and not particularly severe, and there are no obvious clinical symptoms, then treatment is not necessary. Most patients may not have clear symptoms, and the deviation is often discovered during a physical examination or through a nasal endoscopy; in such cases, specific medication or surgery is not required. However, if the deviation is particularly severe and accompanied by obvious clinical symptoms such as nasal congestion, runny nose, induced sinusitis, headaches, or nasal bleeding, it is advisable to consider corrective surgery under nasal endoscopy. This procedure is minimally invasive, and the general recovery period is about a week, and the overall results are relatively clear.

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Does a deviated septum require hospitalization?

The clinical treatment of a deviated nasal septum is primarily through surgical intervention, which involves the removal of the deviated cartilage and bone tissue to correct the structural deviation of the nasal septum. Therefore, hospitalization is required for the surgery, generally for about a week. According to usual procedures, the surgery is performed on the third day, followed by three to four days of intravenous fluid infusion to control and prevent infection. After discharge from the hospital post-surgery, the treatment does not end. Regular follow-up visits to the hospital are necessary to monitor the recovery from nasal mucosal inflammation and to observe the correction of the nasal septum deviation.

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Can a deviated nasal septum be manually adjusted by hand?

A deviated nasal septum cannot be manually adjusted, as the site of deviation is deep within the nasal cavity and thus inaccessible by hand. A deviated nasal septum is a common and frequent condition encountered in otolaryngology. It mainly results from abnormal nasal septum development during the embryonic stage or from postnatal trauma to the nasal septum and pressure from nasal tumors causing the septum to deviate to one side. After developing a deviated nasal septum, the patient may experience continuous, progressive nasal congestion, as well as facial swelling, pain, and headaches among other symptoms. In severe cases, the deviation may lead to complications such as sinusitis and nasal polyps, which can be diagnosed with an endoscopic examination and sinus CT scan at a hospital. In terms of treatment, minor deviations of the nasal septum do not require intervention. However, if associated symptoms are present, localized surgical correction may be necessary and can be curative.

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Can a deviated nasal septum heal on its own?

The clinical diagnosis of a deviated nasal septum includes two parts. Firstly, there is a structural deviation of the nasal septum, where the cartilage and bone tissues lean towards one side of the nasal cavity. This deviation could appear in various forms, such as S-shaped bends or conical deviations. Secondly, these deviations cause nasal symptoms, such as chronic nasal congestion, nosebleeds, and even headaches. Both of these symptom parts are required to diagnose a deviated nasal septum, which can then be treated surgically. Since it is known to be a structural deviation, which is mechanical in nature, a deviated nasal septum cannot recover on its own and requires surgical intervention.

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Nasal septum deviation, general anesthesia or local anesthesia?

Nasal septum deviation is generally treated under general anesthesia through nasal septum deviation correction surgery. During the surgery, the patient experiences no pain. Typically, the surgery can be completed in about one to two hours; this is a routine procedure in otolaryngology. Nasal septum deviation is primarily caused by congenital developmental deformities of the nasal septum or trauma to the nasal septum sustained later in life. This condition leads to persistent and progressively worsening nasal congestion on both sides, along with sensations of swelling and a foreign body in the nasal passages. Severe cases can cause dizziness, headaches, and other related symptoms. A thorough examination at a hospital using an electronic rhinoscope and nasal bone CT scan can confirm the diagnosis. In severe cases of nasal septum deviation, correction surgery under general anesthesia is needed for a complete cure.

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Is nasal irrigation effective for a deviated nasal septum?

Nasal septum deviation washing is ineffective because the deviation is bony. Generally, nasal septum deviation occurs due to abnormal development of the nasal septum during the embryonic stage, or it is caused by trauma to the nasal septum or pressure from nasal cavity tumors later in life, resulting in deviation to one or both sides. After the deviation of the nasal septum, it primarily causes the patient to experience bilateral nasal congestion that progressively worsens. It is also accompanied by facial swelling, headaches, and the deviation itself can potentially trigger the onset of nasal polyps and sinusitis. First, it is necessary to go to the hospital for a detailed inspection using an electronic nasal endoscope and sinus CT to make a diagnosis. If patients with nasal septum deviation do not exhibit any clinical symptoms, generally no treatment is needed. However, if the patient's nasal congestion symptoms persist and worsen, accompanied by headaches, then corrective surgery for the nasal septum deviation is required to completely cure the condition.