Curvature of the Nose Middle Cartilage

The nasal septum is a wall that divides the nasal cavity into two. The anterior part of the septum is made of solid but flexible cartilage, and the posterior part is made of bone. Ideally, the septum should be in the midline and the right and left nasal cavities should be of equal width. In 80% of people, the septum is not exactly in the midline. The septum is located in a position deviated far from the midline and this is called septum deviation.
 
What Causes Septum Deviation?

The mechanisms by which septum deviation occurs are varied. Rarely, some babies are born with septum deviation due to the curved development of the septum in the womb. Sometimes the septum bends as the baby passes through the birth canal. Childhood and adulthood crashes, falls, sports injuries, and traffic accidents can also cause septum deviation. Septum deviations can also occur as a result of the development of the bone and cartilage parts of the septum at different rates during the growing age.
 
What are the Symptoms of Septum Deviation?

The most common symptom of septum deviation is difficulty breathing through the nose. Nasal obstruction is usually on the side where the septum is oblique, but it can also cause a variable breathing difficulty on both sides, sometimes on the right and sometimes on the left. Septum deviation can cause these problems:
Single or Bilateral Nasal Obstruction
Recurrent nosebleeds
Recurrent sinusitis
Sometimes facial pain, headache, postnasal drip
Sound breathing during sleep (especially in children)
 
How is Septum Deviation Treated?

The treatment of septum deviation is surgery and this operation is called septoplasty. Septoplasty surgery is usually performed under general anesthesia. In surgery, the septum is brought to its midline position with incisions made through the nostrils that are not visible from the outside after surgery. During the operation, the excessively inclined parts of the septum are completely removed, and the correctable parts are reshaped and placed again. The surgery usually takes 1-1.5 hours.
 
Is There an Age Limit for Septoplasty Surgery?

There are centers that determine the development of facial bones in the nasal septum. Surgical treatment of septum deviations determined in childhood is generally not performed before the age of 18 in order not to disrupt these centers and the bone development of the face. Growth centers are not active in adults and septoplasty operations do not have a negative effect on the shape of the face.