My husband has bone spurs in his nasal passages.

Question

My hubs has seen an ENT in our area that has suggested he needs surgical intervention to properly open his passages. I'm wondering is a deviated septum isn't also a factor. He is now having ear issues due to maldrainage. I feel like maybe a plastic surgeon specialized in rhinoplasty may be a better surgical option.

Ritchie Younger, MD · Answer

We all want to breath well through our noses.  40% of the revision rhinoplasties that I do involve  improving the nasal airway after they have undergone one or many previous rhinoplasty surgeries.  If your husband has been assessed well by a nasal surgeon, and found to have bone spurs that are impacting nasal airflow in a big way-surgery in the form of some nasal septal reconstruction can generally improve or remedy the situation.  Your potential surgeon should be able to assess the airway through direct inspection and with a rigid or flexible endoscope, so there will be no surprises at surgery, and in fact optimize your final result.  As to whether that would be a ENT surgeon, an otolaryngologist, a rhinologist or a plastic surgeon-is an issue with who does what the best.  Go with whoever you feel comfortable with, but clearly understand that as long as the potential surgeon  takes a great history, examines you well, has  great training, vast experience and a good reputation in the area of the nasal airway-then you are well on your way to an improved nasal airway and probably a fabulous surgical outcome.  Good luck to you !!!

Barry L. Eppley, MD, DMD · Answer

To get a complete evaluation of his nasal passages, a CT scan should be done to get a full assessment of his internal nasal anatomy to determine the source of his nasal breathing problems. Bone spurs are common on the posterior nasal septum but they do not, in and out of themselves, account completely for significant obstructive nasal breathing.

William Portuese, MD · Answer

The bone spurs can occur frequently on the septum. This is also known as a deviated septum. Whether the deviation is rounded or pointed it still blocks the airflow through the nose. A board certified ENT/ facial plastic surgeon can address these issues  by performing a routine septoplasty

Sumit Bapna, MD · Answer

The bony spurs are a portion of the deviation of the nasal septum. Correcting the septum will include removing the bony spurs as well. This type of surgery is very common in our practice.

Mark Loury, MD, FACS (retired) · Answer

Bone spurs are common findings on nasal examination.  What is important is if there are symptoms related to it such as nasal obstruction causing mouth breathing that hasn't responded to nasal steroid sprays, nose bleeds, sinusitis, impaction headaches or facial pain from the spur wedging into other structures, and reduced sense of smell. If he isn't interested in nasal cosmetics then he could choose a surgeon experienced in managing a deviated septum and its functional consequences. It is highly unlikely to relate to his draining ear.  Actually I would be much more concerned about the ear as chronic drainage can indicate mastoid infection or cholesteatoma both of which can cause hearing loss, and in rare cases, extension of the infection intracranially.

My husband has bone spurs in his nasal passages.

Answers (5)

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