Deviated nasal septum is a misaligned or malformed cartilage and bone of the nasal septum. Ideally, the nasal septum is a straight structure in the mid-sagittal plane; however, most patients' nasal septums have some curvature or irregularity. Therefore, a deviated septum is common and often asymptomatic.

Etiologically, a deviated septum is most often congenital, but it may also be due to trauma / injury to the face or nose, a birth injury during delivery, or previous nasal surgery.

A deviated septum is clinically significant when it results in nasal obstruction or facial asymmetry. It is important to understand whether the patient has one or both of these concerns. A patient's quality of life can be affected when the deviated septum causes nasal obstruction.

Deviated nasal septum may be characterized by bilateral or unilateral nasal congestion. It is sometimes associated with snoring or difficulty sleeping. Other signs and symptoms include epistaxis, positional nasal obstruction, postnasal drainage, facial pressure, and headache.

Management includes topical nasal corticosteroids / antihistamines and corrective surgery.