Deviated Septum

Our Approach

A deviated septum happens when the dividing of the bone and cartilage between the nostrils is out of place and slanted to one side. As a result, one nasal passage is smaller than the other. A badly deviated septum can block one side of your nasal passage, making it hard to breathe; it's usually the opposite nostril that becomes blocked. Because most of the airflow is moving through one nostril, the inside of that nostril can become dry or bleed. Getting older can make a deviated septum worse and cause the nasal passages to narrow even more. A deviated septum may lead to persistent or chronic sinus infections.

A deviated septum can occur before or during birth, but more often because of an injury to the nose and face. Common causes include sports accidents, automobile accidents and falls. Although some people with deviated septums do not have any symptoms, most people with the condition have nosebleeds, dry mouth, a feeling of nasal pressure or congestion, and disturbed sleep from difficulty breathing. Surgery is the only treatment that can fix a deviated septum.