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.