CT Image of Deviated Septum

Septoplasty and Turbinate Surgery
The nasal septum is made of bone and cartilage and divides the nasal passages into right and left halves. It is rarely straight – over 80% of people have some degree of deviation or crookedness. If the septum is so deviated that it causes nasal obstruction or contributes to chronic sinusitis, an operation called a septoplasty may correct the problem.

Septoplasties are done in the operating room under general anesthesia. Patients generally go home the same day. Surgeons use small incisions inside the nose to gently lift the lining off the septum and remove or straighten the deviated cartilage and bone. Once the bone and cartilage are removed or straightened, the lining of the septum is returned to its normal position and held in place with absorbable suture material or soft plastic splints.

The turbinates are bony structures that originate along the sides of the nasal passage and project into the nasal airway.They are covered by normal sinus lining and act as baffles to warm and humidify the inhaled air. Occasionally, the turbinates may be enlarged and contribute to nasal obstruction. If this is the case, turbinate reduction may be performed. A variety of methods exist for reducing the turbinates, but the best long-term results are generally from a partial resection of the underlying bone and preservation of the outer lining. This technique avoids the complication of a dry nose from completely resecting the turbinates.

Other Online Resources
 Nose Disorders (National Library of Medicine)

 Deviated Septum  (AAO-HNS)

 Septoplasty (National Library of Medicine)