A bent or deviated septum may cause difficulties in other nasal areas, such as the sinuses and turbinates, the curved bones in the nasal passage that help lubricate the nose and keep it clean.
This page was last updated on: September 16, 2007
Nasal cartilage inflammation is often first diagnosed as acute sinusitis, hay fever or allergies. Repeated flares and non -response to traditional nasal medications should invoke further diagnostic evaluation and treatment. Symptoms of stuffiness, fullness, crusting, rhinorrhea, rhinitis and on occasion epitaxis may accompany nasal cartilage inflammation. Pain may also accompany nasal chondritis and may be mild to severe.
A variety of problems may ensue, causing some or all of the following: Bleeding of the nose (epitaxis), breathing difficulties, dry mouth, head-aches, nasal discharge, post nasal drip, shortness of breath, snoring. Swelling in this region can apply pressure to the eyes resulting in red-ness, tearing and pain The surrounding structures to the nose may also be involved.
1 Nasal Bone
2 Nasal Cartilage
3 Lateral Crus of the Greater Alar Cartilage
4 Medial Crus of Greater Alar Cartilage
5 Septal Cartilage
6 Lesser Alar Cartilage
7 Nasal maxillary Suture
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Airflow may be partially blocked on one side. This causes increased airflow on the opposite side. The imbalanced flow of air irritates the mucous membranes that line the inner surface of the nose as well as the turbinates. The irritation causes both membranes and the turbinates to redden and swell, resulting in blockage on both sides of the nose. The swelling shuts off the openings to the sinus cavities, preventing proper drainage. Which may impact adjoining organs of senses, nerves and blood vessels.
A deviated or perforated septum can be a naturally occurring abnormality and is not conclusive in itself of Relapsing Polychondritis. Nor, chronic, hard to control sinus conditions.
Nasal Chondritis
Nasal chondritis occurs in 48 - 72 percent of the those with Relapsing Polychondritis.
Relapsing Polychondritis usually targets the distal half of the septum, often resulting in its destruction and collapse. Less often the lateral cartilage, greater alar cartilage or the lesser alar cartilage becomes involved.The feeling of fullness and thickness through the whole of the nose is often felt. The nose generally looks swollen, mildly to extremely red and is tender to the touch. Heat may also be present.
Mild to severe pain and swelling may company nasal cartilage inflammation. Nasal septum inflammation may result in inflammation in the posterior elements of the globe of the eye. Sustained or recurrent episodes of inflammation can result in the destruction of the septum cartilage, resulting in saddle nose deformity.
Saddle-nose deformity occurs more frequently in women. This may be due to the differences in the amount and shape of the cartilage structures.
