What is the difference between deviated septum and a broken nose?

Thank you very much for your question.The septum is the structure that divides your nostrils into two distinct cavities.  The cartilage in the septum can sometimes not be straight, in which case it "deviates" to one side or the other, potentially causing breathing problems.A broken nose most commonly refers to the nasal bones toward the top of the nose.You can have either a broken nose, a deviated septum, or both in the case of trauma to the nose.If you have having issues with your nose, I recommend visiting with a board certified plastic surgeon or ENT for an evaluation, and a discussion of your options.  Best of luck!

The nasal bones are at the top portion of you nose; they will look broken if they have been fractured and displaced to one side or another. Often this is very apparent because the external nose will look crooked. The septum is the partition that supports the midline of the nose and separates the right and left sides. The nasal septum is cartilage in the front and bone further back in the nose. If the septum is deviated, that means it is no longer sitting in the midline of the nose, some part of it is off to one side or another. If the deviation is significant, the septum can partially or totally block the nasal airway. Both of these abnormalities can be addressed with a septorhinoplasty. 

Thank you for the question. A "broken nose" is a general term implying an injury to the nose and it's internal structures that includes a fracture of the nasal bones. The septum is the cartilage (in the front) and bone (deeper inside) that divides the nose into left and right parts. This can be "deviated" in many different ways -- crooked, twisted, bent, broken -- which results in blockage of the air flow through the nose. Some nasal injuries will result in both a deviated septum and broken nose.

A deviated septum is a curve in the midline cartilage called the septum which can lead to blockage in the airway.  A broken nose is a break in the nasal bone (most commonly) which are the two bones on the side of the nose adjacent to the eyes.  This can also lead to airway obstruction.  Best of luck. Dr. Michael Omidi.An in-person exam with a board-certified plastic surgeon is the best way to assess your needs and provide true medical advice.

A deviated septum implies the nasal septum (made of cartilage and bone and divides the nasal passageway into left and right airways) is crooked and can cause nasal airway obstruction of one or both sides of the nose. A broken nose implies there is a fracture to the two nasal bones which are the top 1/3 of your nose or the "bony dorsum." A nasal fracture can be associated with a deviated septum and vice versa or they can occur separately. I hope this helps. 

 A deviated septum occurs in the back of the nose  and can be caused from trauma. A deviated septum restricts airflow through the nose when there is twisted bone and cartilage blocking air flow. A septoplasty will not change the shape of the nose. A rhinoplasty procedure is performed to straighten the broken nose. A broken nose is obvious from the external appearance of the nose which  is crooked. Osteotomies of the nasal bones and a unilateral spreader graft placed on the concave side in the midportion of the nose can help straighten it. For many examples of more information describing the different procedures, please see  video  below

A deviated septum refers to the internal partition in the nose (divides the nose into 2 passages). A broken nose refers to the nasal bones (external shape of the nose). A person can have either one without the other.  A deviated septum does not always cause nasal obstruction, and does not always need to be repaired. A broken nose is always the result of trauma, whereas a deviated septum can be genetic or the result of trauma.

Hi Old79,Generally, a deviated septum usually spontaneously occur in the general population and may not necessarily cause the external nose to be deviated, and may even cause one sided blockage of the nose, or in rare cases, may be caused by a broken nose. On the contrary, a broken nose usually exhibits external deformity/deviation, but may not necessarily mean deviated septum.