Chronic sinusitis and symptoms including frequent nosebleeds, facial pain, headaches, postnasal drip, frequent sinus infections, severe nasal congestion, and difficulty breathing through the nose could be caused by a deviated septum.
The nasal septum is a cartilage wall that divides the nasal cavity into two halves. The ideal septum exactly divides the left and right sides of the nose. That being said, some estimate at least 80 percent of all people’s nasal septums are off-center, at least slightly. Being slightly off-center is generally not noticed unless the person has a cold or allergies; it’s when the septum is located severely on one side or the other.
For people suffering from severe chronic sinusitis as a result of a deviated septum, there is treatment. An Ear, Nose and Throat Specialist can diagnose a deviated septum or identify if the sinusitis is caused by some other issue.
If your physician does diagnose a deviated septum, he or she may recommend a septoplasty. This procedure is performed under local or general anesthetic, typically as an outpatient. If required a rhinoplasty may be performed in conjunction with the septoplasty to alter the external appearance of the nose.
