What are the dangers of deviated septum and enlarged turbinates?

Written by Deng Bang Yu
Otolaryngology
Updated on January 03, 2025
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Nasal septal deviation and hypertrophy of the turbinates refer to the cartilaginous and bony parts of the nasal septum leaning towards one side, or both sides, of the nasal cavity, which interferes with the normal drainage function of the nasal passage. The deviation of the nasal septum to one side can cause compensatory hypertrophy of the turbinate on the same side, primarily the enlargement of the inferior turbinate. Clinically, this is mainly manifested by symptoms such as nasal congestion, nosebleeds, and headaches. Therefore, for severe nasal septal deviation, it is often necessary to perform a sinus CT scan to determine the degree of deviation, followed by endoscopic surgery to correct the deviation.

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How to relieve a deviated nasal septum?

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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Can a deviated septum be seen from the outside?

A deviated nasal septum is not apparent externally; it requires a hospital examination including a nasal endoscopy and a sinus CT scan for a definitive diagnosis. A deviated nasal septum is a common and frequently occurring condition in otolaryngology, with about 90% of people having some degree of deviation. This condition is mainly due to abnormal nasal septum development during the embryonic stage or due to trauma to the nasal septum or compression from nasal tumors occurring later. When the nasal septum deviates to one or both sides, it primarily causes persistent, progressive nasal obstruction on both sides. It also accompanies symptoms like mucous nasal discharge, a sense of swelling or a foreign body in the nasal cavity, facial pain, and headaches. A deviated nasal septum can also lead to complications such as sinusitis and nasal polyps. Diagnosis can be confirmed at a hospital with a nasal endoscopy and sinus CT scan. Treatment involves surgical correction of the deviated nasal septum, which can cure the condition.

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Does a deviated septum require surgery?

First, it is necessary to ascertain the degree of deviation, as a normal person's nasal septum is usually somewhat deviated. It is recommended to visit an otolaryngology department to complete relevant examinations to determine the extent of the deviation, and then decide on the next steps. If the deviation is severe and accompanied by clinical symptoms such as nasal congestion and nasal discharge, surgical treatment may be considered. However, for those who do not have symptoms and whose breathing is not affected, surgery is generally not considered. Therefore, the decision should be based on clinical symptoms and the degree of deviation. After surgery, it is important to rest, avoid strenuous activity, keep the area clean and dry, and prevent infection.

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Deviated nasal septum has symptoms such as:

Symptoms caused by a deviated nasal septum vary widely, with some people experiencing predominantly one symptom, while others may have several symptoms simultaneously. The most common symptom is nasal congestion, which can be unilateral or bilateral, depending on the type and degree of the septal deviation. If the deviation affects both sides of the nasal cavity, bilateral congestion occurs; if it affects only one side, unilateral congestion occurs. Another symptom is recurrent nosebleeds, which may be related to a protrusion formed by the deviation, causing the mucous membrane at that location to be thin and prone to erosion and bleeding. Additionally, headaches can occur due to the nasal septum deviation irritating the nasal nerve. Other symptoms include those of secondary conditions such as a runny nose and mouth breathing.

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Is the deviation of the nasal septum severe?

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.