53016 - Nasal Septum Surgery

The need for nasal septum surgery—whether septoplasty, submucous resection, or closure of a septal perforation—arises when a patient has a deviated septum, excessive septal tissue, or a hole in the nasal septum causing breathing difficulties, chronic sinus infections, nasal obstruction, or whistling sounds during respiration, requiring surgical correction under anesthesia with assistance in a hospital to restore nasal airflow and function. This procedure is indicated for structural nasal issues, critical in the maxillofacial region where septal alignment affects breathing, sinus health, and facial symmetry.

Specific conditions necessitating this intervention include:

• Deviated septum: A crooked septum from birth or trauma might obstruct one nostril, leading to snoring, sleep apnea, or recurrent sinusitis, requiring septoplasty to straighten it and improve airflow.
• Submucous resection: Excessive cartilage or bone within the septum could block breathing or cause headaches, needing removal to clear the nasal passage while preserving mucosal integrity.
• Septal perforation: A hole from trauma, prior surgery, or drug use might cause whistling, crusting, or infections, prompting closure with grafts or flaps to restore the septum’s barrier function.
• Functional impairment: Nasal obstruction affecting exercise tolerance or sleep quality demands correction to enhance respiratory efficiency and overall health.

For example, a patient with a deviated septum from a childhood injury might undergo septoplasty to alleviate chronic nasal stuffiness and frequent sinus infections, with the assistant aiding in precise cartilage reshaping. In an aged care setting, an elderly patient with a perforated septum from long-term nasal irritation could require this closure to stop persistent nasal bleeding and crusting, tailored to their frailty. By realigning the septum, removing excess tissue, or sealing perforations, this service restores nasal breathing, prevents sinus-related complications, and improves quality of life, making it a vital procedure for addressing nasal septal abnormalities within the maxillofacial framework.

Improves nasal airflow, reduces sinus infections, and restores respiratory function.

Recovery of 2-4 weeks with nasal swelling, breathing adjustments, and packing removal; hospital stay required.