The nasal septum is that sharp or ridged bone inside your nose, separating the left from the right nasal passage. In other people, this septum is not straight at all, and this gives rise to the condition known as DNS.
Sometimes, this makes one-half of the nasal airways thinner compared to the other, making the varied effects on one’s breathing pattern and sinus draining, amongst others. Even though DNS is common, it does not require some medical attention as its treatment in certain instances.
In this blog post, we will discuss what DNS is, what its symptoms and causes are, and how it can be treated. It will also talk about when surgery might be required to correct DNS and where you can go for professional care.
What is a Deviated Nasal Septum?
A Deviated Nasal Septum refers to the septum within the nose. On one side, it gets displaced from a normal straight alignment. A Deviated Nasal Septum makes a nasal passage notably narrower than its counterpart.
In many ways, the nasal septum can be bent, and it comes with different forms of misalignments. The condition is relatively very common in nature, and the cause may relate to birth injuries or may well be a progression over time.
A deviated nasal septum might not show any symptoms at all. Most people are completely unaware if they have this condition or not. In severe cases, DNS might lead to major complications such as recurring sinus infections, breathing difficulties, and sleeping issues.
Causes of Deviated Nasal Septum
There are several causes of DNS. The most common causes include –
- Congenital: Some people are born with this condition. This condition usually doesn’t cause symptoms, but eventually, breathing difficulties or other problems develop.
- Injury or Trauma: This is a condition arising from an injury or trauma, such as accidents or sports injuries, causing a deviated nasal septum. Trauma to the nose or face, including a broken nose, can cause the septum to shift and bend.
- Old Age: Ageing can weaken or alter the shape of the cartilage in the nose and cause a crooked nasal septum.
- Abnormal Growth: The nasal septum may develop as crooked as part of normal growth that takes place in adolescence or young adulthood.
Deviated Nasal Septum Symptoms
The symptoms of DNS depend on how deviated it is. Some of the common symptoms include:
- Difficulty Breathing Through the Nose: A large deviation can make it harder to breathe on one side of the nose.
- Nasal Congestion or Stuffiness: DNS may cause chronic nasal obstruction or stuffiness on one side of the nose.
- Sinus Infections: DNS causes recurrent infections by not allowing the sinuses to drain properly. This leads to pressure and pain in the head and face.
- Nosebleeds: The disease can cause the nasal cavity to dry, and this may result in nosebleeds being quite common.
- Snoring or Sleep Apnea: Inability to breathe is a result of DNS. It means that this may result in snoring or even sleep apnea.
- Facial Pain or Pressure: Some DNS cases experience the feeling of pain or pressure in the face. That is accompanied by possible headaches.
When is Surgery Needed for a Deviated Nasal Septum (DNS)?
While in most cases, patients with DNS can be cured through medications and non-surgical DNS Treatment, there are some severe cases where surgical correction is a must. Septoplasty as a form of surgery is usually recommended in cases where DNS significantly involves issues with breathing and quality of life.
Some of the following are instances that warrant surgical intervention–
- Severe Defective Respiratory Function: When the crooked septum has led to chronic breathing defects through the nostrils or distortions, which are so drastic that individuals can not breathe in and out naturally without surgery, which will enable people to breathe fairly easily.
- Resistant Sinus Infections: If DNS disables sinuses and leads to infections which are repeatable, one may undergo surgery to try and regain a normal sinus for the reduction in infections.
- Consistent Nosebleeds: If the deviation is causing frequent or severe nosebleeds that cannot be controlled with other treatments, septoplasty may be recommended.
- Sleep Apnea or Snoring: For patients having significant snoring or sleep apnea due to DNS, the surgery may facilitate improvement in breathing and reduction in these problems.
- Unable To Perform Non-Surgical Treatment: Most physicians recommend the patient for a non-surgical treatment, which is medical treatment and nasal sprays or breathing exercises.
- Visible Deformity and Cosmetic Issues: DNS may sometimes cause deformity in the nose and harm someone‘s self-esteem. A few people opt for surgical treatments to make their noses less twisted and deformed.
Septoplasty: The Surgical Option for DNS
The most common surgery for a deviated nasal septum is known as septoplasty. In performing a septoplasty, the surgeon must relocate or remove portions within the septum that cause obstruction in the nasal passage.
Usually, this procedure is conducted with local or general anaesthesia; however, it is sometimes possible to conduct this form of surgery on an outpatient basis, allowing the patient to be discharged from the hospital on the same day as the surgery.
What to Expect After Septoplasty?
Recovery after septoplasty is primarily fast but varies from one person to another. The key aspects of the recovery include the following:
- Bruising and Swelling: There could be swelling and bruising in and around the nose and eyes.
- Congestion: You might have a feeling of congestion or fullness in your nose while recovering within the first days after surgery.
This is because, for after-care purposes, several follow-up visits have to be taken after surgery so that the septum in question heals properly.
Patients usually recover somewhat in three to four days, but if it is to go fully well, then the recovery time would take longer, which could at times take as long as two or even more, sometimes as several weeks.
For instance, proper care has to be in place on recommendations given by surgeons regarding any kind of exercises thereafter.
What Are The Non-surgical DNS Treatments Available?
Depending on the kind of DNS, non-surgical treatments might be used before surgery to manage the DNS symptoms. Some of the remedies include —
- Decongestants, which enable breathing: Steroid sprays of the nose could reduce swelling on the nasal mucosa. Thus, nasal congestion is made easier.
- Antihistamines: This might be the reason for relieving allergies.
- Nasal Strips: These are the adhesive strips which, when stuck across the nose externally, could be helpful to open up the nasal passages and improve the airflow.
Where to Seek Treatment for DNS
In case of symptoms, DNS Treatment must be taken under professional supervision from an ENT specialist. In Coimbatore, Vikram ENT Hospital is well-reputed for quality diagnosis and treatment for nasal diseases, including DNS. An expert team will be there at Vikram ENT Hospital to provide the best advice regarding whether to undergo conservative management or surgery.
Conclusion
DNS, or Deviated Nasal Septum, is a common disorder that may bring some breathing discomforts, infections of the sinuses, and other such ailments. Not all who have DNS, though, will require surgical intervention; surgery is the other option when the conservative treatments have failed, or the symptoms interfere with daily living. If you feel you have DNS and you’re thinking of one of the treatment options, you should consult an ENT specialist with the proper qualifications.
If you are seeking the best and most effective place for DNS treatment in Coimbatore, then Vikram ENT Hospital is your perfect choice. With proper care, we ensure to help make breathing easier and lead a better quality of life.
