Deviated Septum

A deviated septum occurs when the nasal septum — the thin wall of bone and cartilage dividing the two nostrils — is shifted off centre, which can restrict airflow on one or both sides of the nose. The condition may be present from birth or follow trauma, and it commonly leads to symptoms such as nasal congestion, difficulty breathing through the nose, snoring, recurrent sinus infections, and occasional nosebleeds.

Diagnosis is made by a clinical examination and often nasal endoscopy; mild symptoms can be managed with medical treatments like saline rinses and topical steroids, while persistent or severe obstruction is typically treated with septoplasty to reposition or remove the obstructing cartilage and bone. Septoplasty restores airflow and is frequently performed alongside rhinoplasty when cosmetic or structural changes are desired; risks are uncommon but can include bleeding, infection, persistent obstruction, or septal perforation, and recovery generally involves a short period of nasal swelling and limited physical activity.