There are various nasal and sinus surgical procedures such as a septoplasty, rhinoplasty, sinus surgery and endoscopic surgery. Some conditions that may require a nasal or sinus procedure include nasal blockages, chronic sinusitis, deviated septum, sinus or nasal trauma, nosebleeds, nasal polyps and enlarged turbinates.

Nasal surgery, also referred to as a septoplasty, is a surgical procedure to realign a deviated septum. It may require the surgeon to cut and remove parts of the septum. As with any surgery, there are risks of bleeding, infection and an adverse reaction to anesthesia. Other risks with septoplasty are persisting symptoms, change in shape of the nose, septal perforation, decrease in sense of smell, and a numb sensation in the upper gums or teeth. After the procedure, certain activities need to be avoided. To decrease the chances of bleeding and swelling, it’s recommended to avoid strenuous activities, blowing your nose and wearing clothes that need to be pulled over the head. Elevating your head while sleeping can also be beneficial.

Endoscopic sinus surgery is a minimally invasive surgery that uses a scope to enter the nose to access the sinuses. It is primarily used to remove blockages from the sinuses that cause pain, block drainage and impair breathing. This procedure is generally performed on an outpatient basis.

In order to determine if you are a candidate for nasal or sinus surgery, your otolaryngologist will need to evaluate and diagnose your symptoms. Contact our office at 337-266-9820 to schedule an appointment.

A deviated septum is defined as a crooked or off center septum, the bone and cartilage that divides the nasal cavity. If the deviation is serious enough, it can cause breathing difficulties and chronic sinus conditions that require treatment. Ideally, the nasal septum should evenly divide the left and right nostril; however, this is rare.

About 80 percent of the population has a septum that is off center to some degree. A deviated septum can occur during birth or fetal development with other cases attributed to trauma or injury to the nose in sports or an auto accident that causes a nasal fracture.

A septal deviation may be slight and not easily noticed, but more severe cases of a deviated septum will present with more significant symptoms that may include nasal congestion in the narrower nostril, frequent nosebleeds, sinus infections, facial pain and pressure, headaches, postnasal drip and noisy breathing or snoring during sleep.

If the deviated septum isn’t too severe, symptoms may respond to treatment with medications. Antihistamines, decongestants and nasal steroid sprays can reduce congestion and inflammation in some patients. A surgical procedure known as a septoplasty is the only way to reposition a crooked septum. This involves removing excess bone or cartilage to create a larger breathing space and is typically performed in an outpatient setting using local or general anesthesia. A rhinoplasty to reshape the nose can be performed with the septoplasty.

A nasal fracture, more commonly referred to as a broken nose, is a break in the cartilage or bone in the nose. This is typically the result of trauma to the nose from sports or accidents. The nose will swell and may become misshapen or crooked. Nasal fractures often cause breathing difficulty and should receive medical attention to be corrected.

Nosebleeds most often come from the front of the nose. They are generally caused by trauma to the nose or septum. Very rarely, they may come from the back of the nose and typically occur in elderly people. In addition to trauma to the nose, nosebleeds may be caused by other medical conditions. They can be messy and may drip down the throat into the stomach, causing nausea. Excessive blood loss from a nosebleed is rare, but medical evaluation is recommended for chronic nosebleeds.

To determine the appropriate treatment plan for your nasal condition, your otolaryngologist will need to evaluate and diagnose your symptoms. Contact our office at 337-266-9820 to schedule an appointment.

Sinuses are the hollow cavities in the bones around the nose that connect to it through narrow channels. Sinusitis, more commonly referred to as a sinus infection. A common cold, allergic rhinitis, nasal polyps or a deviated septum can create an environment where the sinuses become blocked and fill with fluid, bacteria, viruses or fungi that grow and cause an infection.

Sinus infections can affect all age groups. Symptoms include facial pain or pressure, nasal stuffiness, nasal discharge, loss of smell, cough, congestion, fever, bad breath, fatigue and dental pain. There are two types of sinus infections. Acute sinus infection symptoms last up to four weeks and are usually caused by a virus or bacteria. Chronic sinus infection symptoms last 12 weeks or longer and are usually caused by prolonged inflammation.

Treatment for a sinus infection will depend on the cause. The goal with any sinus treatment is to improve drainage of mucus and reduce swelling in the sinuses, relieve pain and pressure, clear up any infection, prevent the formation of scar tissue and avoid permanent damage to the tissues lining the nose and sinuses. If medication and home treatments are unsuccessful, procedures such as sinus surgery or Balloon Sinuplasty can help drain the sinuses for better outcomes when paired with medication.

An untreated sinus infection typically leads to unnecessary pain and discomfort. Very rarely, an untreated sinus infection can lead to meningitis or brain abscess and bone infection. To determine the appropriate treatment plan for your nasal condition, your otolaryngologist will need to evaluate and diagnose your symptoms. Contact our office at 337-266-9820 to schedule an appointment.

Otoplasty is a surgical procedure used to alter the shape, position and proportion of the ear. This surgery may be needed to correct a congenital defect, injury or trauma to the ear. It may also be used to simply change the shape of your ear if you are unhappy with it.

The most popular type of surgery is ear pinning. This changes the shape of the ears and brings them closer to the head. Children require general anesthesia while adults can usually complete the procedure with just a sedative and local anesthesia. An incision is made in the back of the ear to expose the cartilage. The cartilage scoring technique requires the surgeon to make an incision into the cartilage in order to reshape the ear. The cartilage sparing technique uses only stiches to change the ear shape and position. Regardless of the type of ear pinning performed, once the shape is achieved the ear is then repositioned so it sits closer to the head and the incision is closed with stitches. This surgery usually only takes one to two hours.

Microtia is a congenital defect that leads to small and underdeveloped ears. Children with this defect as well as anyone whose ears were burned or injured can be treated with reconstructive ear surgery. This procedure involves taking cartilage from the ribs and skin from the upper buttock area to build up the ear.

Ear reduction surgery is performed if the patient is unhappy with the size or shape of their ears. A cut is made into the cartilage and the ear is then resized and reshaped. Ear pinning is usually performed at the same time as reduction surgery.

If you would like more information about ear surgery, contact our office at 337-266-9820 to schedule an appointment.

Dizziness is the feeling of unsteadiness. It can be caused by a number of different conditions. The most common is an issue with the inner ear.

The inner ear is made up of the semicircular canals, which are responsible for helping you keep your balance, and the cochlea, which is crucial for hearing. Issues with dizziness are typically isolated to the semicircular canal. There are three canals: the horizontal, the posterior and the superior. Each canal is filled with fluid called endolymph and lined with tiny hairs. With every head movement the fluid within the canals moves; this movement activates the tiny hairs, which send an electric impulse to the brain. The three canals all sit at different angles and are each responsible for a different sense of directional balance.

A problem can occur when the information sent to the brain from the semicircular canals does not match the information from your other senses; if this happens you may experience the feeling that your surroundings are moving even though they are not. This is called vertigo. Episodes of vertigo can last for a few seconds to a few hours and can be accompanied by loss of balance, lightheadedness and unsteadiness. More severe cases can include sudden and severe headaches and vomiting.

The most common type of vertigo is benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV). Those with this condition experience sudden and often intense feelings of spinning and moving. This can be caused by a sudden head movement, such as getting up too fast or getting hit in the head.

Ménière’s disease can cause episodes of vertigo that last for several hours at a time. This disease is caused by a buildup of fluid within the middle ear, which can also lead to hearing loss and tinnitus.

In order to determine the cause of your dizziness your doctor will review your medical history and complete a physical exam. A series of tests will then be ordered. An eye movement test is used to see how well your eyes can track a moving object. A Dix-Hallpike maneuver is performed if your doctor suspects you are suffering from BPPV. This test involves moving your head and lying down; your eye movements for the next 45 seconds are then measured.

A posturography is a non-invasive test used to determine what part of your balance system is the cause of the problem. You will stand on a platform and try to keep your balance while the platform moves. A safety harness is worn to ensure you are not injured during this test. A rotary-chair test may also be performed. This test involves sitting in a moving chair while your eye movements are measured.

Dizziness episodes usually resolve on their own. If the cause of your dizziness is identified there are a few treatment options. Medications may be used for short-term relief. Ménière’s disease is often treated with anti-nausea and water pills. Therapy is the most common long-term treatment. Head position maneuvers, balance therapy and psychotherapy are used to help teach you techniques to deal with dizziness.

If you are experiencing unexplained episodes of dizziness contact our office at 337-266-9820 to schedule an appointment.

An ear infection is caused by a bacterial or viral infection within the middle ear, the air-filled space behind the eardrum. While adults may suffer from ear infections they are far more common in children. This is because the Eustachian tubes in children are shorter and more horizontal. In addition, children still have predominant adenoids, which can easily block the opening of the Eustachian tubes if they become enlarged.

Typically, ear infections are caused by another illness already in the body, such as a cold, allergies or a sinus infection. These conditions can cause congestion and swelling of the nasal passages, throat and Eustachian tubes.

The Eustachian tubes run from the middle ear to the back of the throat. They work to regulate air pressure, refresh air and drain normal secretions from the middle ear. If the tubes swell, fluid can accumulate in the middle ear. The bacteria or virus in this fluid will then cause an infection.

Adenoids also play a large role in the development of ear infections. The adenoids sit at the back of the nose, near the opening of the Eustachian tubes. They are part of the immune system. If they do become inflamed, they can block the entrance to the Eustachian tubes, leading to a buildup of fluid in the middle ear.

Common symptoms of an ear infection are ear pain, drainage of fluid from the middle ear and diminished hearing. Children may also experience a fever, difficultly sleeping, headache and loss of appetite. You should seek medical attention if symptoms last for more than a day or the ear pain is severe.

While most ear infections don’t lead to long-term complications, frequent infections can have lasting effects. Children may develop speech delays. The infection can spread to nearby tissue, which might then lead to damage of the bone. Significant hearing loss can arise or the eardrum can rupture from the increase in pressure.

Your doctor will review your symptoms and perform an exam . Once your doctor has made a diagnosis, they will determine the right treatment plan.

Fluid build-up in the middle ear can be treated with the “wait-and-see” approach. This involves monitoring the symptoms for a week to see if the fluid resolves on its own. If this approach does not yield results antibiotics will be prescribed. A warm compress and over-the-counter pain medications can be used to manage the pain during treatment.

If children suffer from frequent ear infections ear tubes are recommended. This simple procedure inserts tiny tubes into the child’s ear to help with air circulation and fluid drainage.

If you or your child is experiencing symptoms of an ear infection contact our office at 337-266-9820.