Submucosal resection (SMR) of the nose is a surgical procedure used to treat adeviated septum. This procedure is also called a septoplasty.
According to some sources,septoplastydiffers from SMR in that during an SMR, large portions of tissue are removed while a septoplasty is a “tissue sparing” procedure. Most ENT surgeons use these 2 names interchangeably. however, as the surgery is used to correct a deviated septum.
lyosha_nazarenko / Getty Images
Issues Associated With a Deviated Septum
The septum is the wall that divides the nose in half. It is composed primarily of cartilage and some bone. Approximately 80 percent of people have a septum that is not exactly centered, but this isn’t usually a problem.
A deviated septum can cause problems with breathing through the nose or may cause problems with the way the sinuses drain.
A deviated septum can also lead to other problems, such as frequent nosebleeds, frequent sinus infections, or facial pain. Symptoms may get worse if you have a cold.
Indications for Submucosal Resection
SMR is not always necessary for treating a deviated septum. But you and your healthcare provider may consider this option if you are having chronic sinus infections that have not responded to other treatments.
It may also be considered if you have a septal deviation that is causing chronic nosebleeds, or if the deviation is causing difficulty breathing.
This procedure may also be done if you are havingnasal sinus surgeryand your deviated septum is making it difficult for your healthcare provider to access other parts of your nose or sinuses. Sometimes SMR is done as part of acleft palaterepair.
The Procedure
SMR of the nose is usually performed as same-day surgery. It can be done using a local or general anesthetic. The procedure lasts for an average of an hour to an hour and a half.
During the surgery, some portions of the septum may be either entirely removed or readjusted.
SMR is performed entirely through the nostrils and does not change the external appearance of the nose—you will look the same after surgery as you did before, with no visible incision or scar.
This procedure is not usually performed on individuals under the age of 18 since the septum is still growing.
Risks
Risks of SMR of the nose may include bleeding, infection, septal perforation (hole), saddle nose deformity (if too much septum is removed), and complications from anesthesia. You may have some bleeding from the nose for about 24 hours after surgery.
You may also have a stuffy nose for a few days after this surgery due to swelling.Acool-mist humidifiercan be helpful and may prevent crusting around the nostrils.
7 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Deviated septum.Harvard Health Publishing.Teixeira J, Certal V, Chang ET, Camacho M.Nasal Septal Deviations: A Systematic Review of Classification Systems.Plast Surg Int. 2016;2016:7089123. doi:10.1155/2016/7089123Deviated septum.Drugs.com[internet].Fettman N, Sanford T, Sindwani R.Surgical management of the deviated septum: techniques in septoplasty.Otolaryngol Clin North Am. 2009;42(2):241-52, viii. doi:10.1016/j.otc.2009.01.005Chand G, Shafiq M, Khan A.The comparative study of submucosal resection of nasal septum under local and general anaesthesia.J Pak Med Assoc; 62(10):1020-2.Deviated nasal septum.Texas Sinus Institute[internet].Low WK, Willatt DJ.Submucous resection for deviated nasal septum: a critical appraisal.Singapore Med J; 33(6):617-9.Additional ReadingAetna. Clinical Policy Bulletin:Septoplasty and Rhinoplasty.American Academy of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery.Deviated Septum.Medscape.Septoplasty.
7 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Deviated septum.Harvard Health Publishing.Teixeira J, Certal V, Chang ET, Camacho M.Nasal Septal Deviations: A Systematic Review of Classification Systems.Plast Surg Int. 2016;2016:7089123. doi:10.1155/2016/7089123Deviated septum.Drugs.com[internet].Fettman N, Sanford T, Sindwani R.Surgical management of the deviated septum: techniques in septoplasty.Otolaryngol Clin North Am. 2009;42(2):241-52, viii. doi:10.1016/j.otc.2009.01.005Chand G, Shafiq M, Khan A.The comparative study of submucosal resection of nasal septum under local and general anaesthesia.J Pak Med Assoc; 62(10):1020-2.Deviated nasal septum.Texas Sinus Institute[internet].Low WK, Willatt DJ.Submucous resection for deviated nasal septum: a critical appraisal.Singapore Med J; 33(6):617-9.Additional ReadingAetna. Clinical Policy Bulletin:Septoplasty and Rhinoplasty.American Academy of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery.Deviated Septum.Medscape.Septoplasty.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Deviated septum.Harvard Health Publishing.Teixeira J, Certal V, Chang ET, Camacho M.Nasal Septal Deviations: A Systematic Review of Classification Systems.Plast Surg Int. 2016;2016:7089123. doi:10.1155/2016/7089123Deviated septum.Drugs.com[internet].Fettman N, Sanford T, Sindwani R.Surgical management of the deviated septum: techniques in septoplasty.Otolaryngol Clin North Am. 2009;42(2):241-52, viii. doi:10.1016/j.otc.2009.01.005Chand G, Shafiq M, Khan A.The comparative study of submucosal resection of nasal septum under local and general anaesthesia.J Pak Med Assoc; 62(10):1020-2.Deviated nasal septum.Texas Sinus Institute[internet].Low WK, Willatt DJ.Submucous resection for deviated nasal septum: a critical appraisal.Singapore Med J; 33(6):617-9.
Deviated septum.Harvard Health Publishing.
Teixeira J, Certal V, Chang ET, Camacho M.Nasal Septal Deviations: A Systematic Review of Classification Systems.Plast Surg Int. 2016;2016:7089123. doi:10.1155/2016/7089123
Deviated septum.Drugs.com[internet].
Fettman N, Sanford T, Sindwani R.Surgical management of the deviated septum: techniques in septoplasty.Otolaryngol Clin North Am. 2009;42(2):241-52, viii. doi:10.1016/j.otc.2009.01.005
Chand G, Shafiq M, Khan A.The comparative study of submucosal resection of nasal septum under local and general anaesthesia.J Pak Med Assoc; 62(10):1020-2.
Deviated nasal septum.Texas Sinus Institute[internet].
Low WK, Willatt DJ.Submucous resection for deviated nasal septum: a critical appraisal.Singapore Med J; 33(6):617-9.
Aetna. Clinical Policy Bulletin:Septoplasty and Rhinoplasty.American Academy of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery.Deviated Septum.Medscape.Septoplasty.
Aetna. Clinical Policy Bulletin:Septoplasty and Rhinoplasty.
American Academy of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery.Deviated Septum.
Medscape.Septoplasty.
Meet Our Medical Expert Board
Share Feedback
Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
What is your feedback?
