Can a deviated septum be seen from the outside?

Written by Zhang Jun
Otolaryngology
Updated on February 05, 2025
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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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Written by Li Mao Cai
Otolaryngology
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Will a deviated septum get worse over time?

A deviated nasal septum generally does not worsen over time, as it is often a congenital condition. From birth, the septum develops in a skewed manner, hence the likelihood of it becoming increasingly deviated is not very high, unless significant trauma occurs during growth or later in life, which could exacerbate the deviation. In the case of normal development, the deviation does not worsen. Moreover, with the physiological development of bodily functions, the nasal septum's deviation might actually improve. However, during this period, conditions such as septal effusion and spurs could potentially lead to more severe deviations.

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Written by Zhang Jun
Otolaryngology
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Can a deviated septum be detected by a CT scan?

A CT scan can detect a deviated nasal septum, which is a common and frequently occurring condition in otolaryngology, typically due to abnormal development of the nasal septum during the embryonic stage or from trauma or pressure from nasal tumors. When the nasal septum is deviated, it can cause persistent nasal congestion on both sides, as well as facial swelling, headaches, and may also lead to sinusitis or nasal polyps. Diagnosis can be confirmed with an endoscopic examination using an electronic nasal endoscope and a sinus CT scan at the hospital. If the deviation of the nasal septum is severe and accompanied by nasal congestion and headaches, surgical correction of the deviated septum may be necessary to completely resolve the symptoms.

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Written by Deng Bang Yu
Otolaryngology
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How to treat enlarged turbinates and a deviated nasal septum?

For the condition of enlarged turbinates and a deviated nasal septum, we need to understand that these are pathological changes in the anatomical structure of the nose. In dealing with anomalies in the anatomical structure, our first step should be to perform a CT scan, then assess the extent of the enlargement of the turbinates and the deviation of the nasal septum. If the condition is severe, and there are relatively prominent symptoms such as nasal congestion, nosebleeds, and even headaches, then we should consider correcting these abnormal structures surgically, by removing these anomalies or correcting the deviated nasal septum or addressing the factors causing the turbinate hypertrophy. If there are no significant symptoms or only minor deviation or enlargement, treatment usually involves medication, primarily nasal sprays such as intranasal corticosteroids. In summary, there are mainly two treatment methods: surgical and medical treatments.

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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 Li Rui
Otolaryngology
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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.