The nose is divided into two separate compartments by the nasal septum, which is four to five inches long in fully-grown teenagers. The septum, or wall, consists of soft cartilage, mucosa, blood vessels and bone. Besides dividing the nasal cavity into two compartments, the septum provides a mechanism to increase the total mucosal surface area of the nose and this aids the sense of smell.
The nasal septum may be deviated or crooked due to injury that occurs prior to or during adolescence. Also, during adolescence, there may be different growth rates between the cartilaginous part of the septum and the bony section. This difference in growth may also cause a deviated nasal septum.
Who is likely to develop a deviated nasal septum?
Of course any adolescent may be prone to nose injuries during sports or everyday activities. And there is no prediction as to whose noses will have a deviation due to different growth rates of the tissues.
What are the symptoms of deviated nasal septum?
Most commonly, a teen with a deviated nasal septum will have difficulty breathing through his or her nose. Other symptoms may include nosebleeds or recurrent sinus infections. A crooked nasal septum may block or restrict the openings to the sinus cavities and not allow proper drainage. As a result, an environment for infection, or sinusitis may be created. An adolescent’s sense of smell may be diminished when he or she has a sinus infection. If the teen has significant blockage of his or her nasal passage by the deviation, then mouth breathing may occur. This could lead to bad breath in the morning, sore throat by dryness or snoring problems. And significant problems with nasal breathing may affect the teen’s athletic performance.
How is a deviated nasal septum evaluated?
If there is a question that a teen has a deviated nasal septum, then an evaluation by an otolaryngologist, a physician specializing in ear, nose and throat diseases may be indicated. The physician will do a nasal and oral examination and may also obtain screening x-rays or scans.
How is a deviated nasal septum treated?
A septoplasty, which is a reconstruction of the nasal septum, may be performed to correct the deformity. The surgeon straightens the septum by reshaping the bones and cartilage so that when healing is complete, the deformity will be much less obvious or no longer present. The indications for surgical repair of a deviated nasal septum include recurrent sinus infections, difficulty in breathing through the nose or for cosmetic reasons.
Some teens have a “nose job” for cosmetic reasons. They feel that having the nose reshaped surgically will promote a better appearance and increased self-esteem. Cosmetic surgery is usually expensive and often not covered by medical insurance. However, some teens will have a better self-image and self-esteem if a crooked septum is corrected.
How is a deviated nasal septum prevented?
There is the story of a graduating senior at a New England prep school who was taking a self-defense course to prepare her for college life. During the demonstration of a technique, the course instructor accidentally hit the student directly in the nose breaking the septum and causing an immediate deviation. The student subsequently underwent correction of the deformity since she had difficulty breathing through her nose after the injury.
During certain sports activities, it is important to wear headgear that may help to prevent nasal injuries. Football is typically one of those collision sports. However, since the nose is usually unprotected during sports and it protrudes naturally from the face, it is often injured if there is facial injury.
Related topics:
Accidents, athletic equipment, athletic injuries, body image, cosmetic surgery, growth and development, head injuries, nose jobs, self-esteem
