From the Guidelines
Trauma or injury to the nose is the most common cause of a deviated septum, and congenital factors, normal aging processes, and certain medical conditions can also contribute to its development. The risk factors for a deviated septum can be categorized into several groups, including:
- Trauma or injury to the nose, such as from sports accidents, falls, or physical fights 1
- Congenital factors, where some people are born with a deviated septum due to compression of the nose during fetal development or birth
- Normal aging processes, which can worsen a deviation over time as cartilage and tissues change
- Certain medical conditions like nasal polyps or tumors, which can push the septum out of alignment
- Repeated inflammation from chronic sinusitis, which may contribute to septal deviation
- Genetic factors, which can predispose individuals to structural nasal abnormalities, including a deviated septum
- Previous nasal surgeries, which might sometimes result in septal deviation as a complication
Understanding these risk factors is important because a significantly deviated septum can cause breathing difficulties, frequent sinus infections, nosebleeds, facial pain, and snoring 1. If symptoms are severe, treatment options include medications to reduce inflammation or surgical correction through septoplasty, which involves reshaping, repositioning, or recontouring the cartilage, and has a high reported success rate 1.
From the Research
Risk Factors for Deviated Septum
- The exact causes of a deviated septum are not well understood, but it is believed to be related to a combination of genetic and environmental factors 2.
- Trauma to the nose, such as a blow to the face, can cause a deviated septum 2.
- Septal deformity can also occur due to compression across the maxilla from pressures during pregnancy or parturition, which is part of a facial deformity 2.
- The incidence of septal deformity has been investigated in various studies, with findings suggesting that it occurs at a constant rate at birth and in adults, with varying degrees of deformity 2.
Prevalence of Deviated Septum
- Studies have shown that deviated septum is a common condition, with a prevalence of around 27% in infants and 37% in adults 2.
- The prevalence of deviated septum may vary slightly among different ethnic groups 2.
Treatment Options for Deviated Septum
- Septoplasty is a surgical procedure that is commonly used to treat deviated septum, and has been shown to be effective in improving nasal obstruction symptoms 3, 4, 5.
- Non-surgical management options, such as nasal steroid sprays and saline sprays, may also be effective in treating deviated septum, but the evidence is limited 3, 5.
- The effectiveness of septoplasty with concurrent turbinate surgery versus septoplasty alone is still unclear, with some studies suggesting no additional benefit of turbinate surgery 4, 6.