The Nose - Sinusitis Treatment, Septoplasty, Nasal Surgery and More - Minneapolis/St. Paul Twin Cities Metro Area

The nose is a vital part of your body, purifying the very air that you breathe.

Although your nose is not something you frequently think about, if you get a cold or develop sinus problems, you will quickly realize how much your nose affects many aspects of your overall health. From management of sinusitis to nasal allergies and nasal surgery, our otolaryngologists are uniquely trained to diagnose, treat and manage disorders and diseases associated with the nose.

Deviated Nasal Septum

The nasal septum is the wall that divides the nasal cavity into right and left sides. This wall is made up of cartilage and bone and is responsible for supporting respiratory mucosa and the external nose, as well as regulating airflow. Very few people have a perfectly straight nasal septum. Most are irregular in thickness and shape. Minor imperfections usually do not cause problems; however, more severe deformities can impair breathing or contribute to sinusitis. The treatment plan recommended by our physicians will depend on the severity of the problem. A deviated nasal septum is often the result of trauma. In most cases, people do not remember the cause of the trauma as the nose does not have to be broken for the septum to sustain injury.

Septoplasty

After a consultation with one of our physicians at our St. Paul, Woodbury, Eagan or Maplewood clinics, our physicians may recommend septoplasty surgery to correct a severely deviated septum. The purpose of septoplasty surgery is to open the nasal airway and improve breathing. During the surgery, deformed septal cartilage and bone are removed or realigned. The surgery is performed within the nose. Typically there are no external incisions.

Septoplasty surgery has helped many Minneapolis/St. Paul and Western Wisconsin area patients improve their breathing and quality of life. Read more about Septoplasty here.

If you are experiencing difficulty with nasal breathing or have problems with chronic sinusitis, contact our otolaryngology clinic in St. Paul, Eagan, Woodbury or Maplewood.

Sinusitis Treatment

Sinuses are tiny air chambers located behind the eyes, jaws and cheeks. The sinuses produce mucus that filters out bacteria from the air that we breathe. Tiny hairs called cilia sweep mucus out of the sinuses for drainage into the nose. Sinusitis occurs when the sinuses become inflamed and infected - this is when most people will seek medical attention for sinusitis treatment. Our Minneapolis and Wisconsin medical staff, after conducting a thorough evaluation, will determine the most appropriate treatment plan for you. Whether you need assistance for adult or pediatric sinusitis, our expert medical professionals can help.

Possible causes of sinusitis include:

Anatomy - the anatomy of the nose, such as a deviated septum, can interfere with proper nasal drainage, causing sinusitis.

Lifestyle - pregnancy and smoking can put you at a higher risk of sinusitis.

Infection or Inflammation - bacterial and viral infections as well as acid reflux disease can contribute to sinusitis.

Tumors - less common, sinus and nasal tumors can block drainage paths and cause sinusitis

Developmental Problems - certain developmental disorders can cause sinusitis, such as cystic fibrosis.

Sinusitis is often treated with a regimen of antibiotics and steroid nasal sprays.

If you are in need of sinusitis treatment, evaluation at our otolaryngology clinics in the Woodbury, St. Paul, Eagan, Maplewood and Western Wisconsin areas can help. Contact us today.

Experts in medical care for the nose, our otolaryngologists offer medical and surgical treatment for sinusitis and nasal obstruction at our Minneapolis/St. Paul Twin Cities Metro Area clinics. You'll breathe easier knowing that you are in the hands of the knowledgeable and skilled medical professionals at Midwest ENT Specialists.

Interesting Fact about the Nose: Your nose will continue to grow throughout your lifetime.

Pediatric Sinusitis

Did you know that sinuses are not fully developed until age 20? This, coupled with the fact that the average child has between six and eight upper respiratory illnesses per year, makes children very susceptible to sinusitis.

Sinusitis is infected fluid in the sinuses. There are four pairs of sinuses; maxillary sinuses (under the cheek), ethmoid sinuses (between the eyes), frontal sinuses (above the eyes), and sphenoid sinuses (back of the nasal cavity).

Pediatric sinusitis can be one of the most difficult medical problems to diagnose as many of the symptoms overlap other common pediatric medical problems. While the etiology of sinusitis is varied, a strong link to allergies and asthma has been suggested.

Our team of otolaryngologists will conduct thorough tests and examinations at our Western Wisconsin or Minneapolis St. Paul facility to rule out other possible causes of your child's illness. This comprehensive assessment aids in the development of an appropriate treatment plan and a speedy recovery.

Possible Signs of Pediatric Sinusitis

A cold lasting more than two weeks accompanied by a fever
A thick, yellow or green nasal discharge
Post-nasal drip
Fatigue and irritability
Puffiness around the eyes

MiniCAT™ CT Scans - Our Advanced Diagnostic Technology

We understand that our patients' time is valuable and that suffering with sinus and ear problems can rob them of that valuable time. We are committed to providing the highest-quality and most efficient ear, septoplasty, and sinusitis treatment to Minneapolis and Wisconsin residents so that they get fast, effective relief. One way we do that is by making sure we have the most advanced diagnostic technology available to expedite diagnosis and treatment. Our MiniCAT™ scanner provides our patients with the latest in CT scan technology and makes their treatment much more pleasant and time efficient.

One of the basic tools used for diagnosing sinus- and ear-related problems is a computed tomography (CT or CAT) scan. CT scanners create three-dimensional X-ray images of the anatomy, giving physicians valuable information for an accurate diagnosis. Until recently, physicians had to send patients to hospitals or imaging centers for sinus or ear scans taken on large, donut-shaped, full-body CT scanners. Having these tests performed off-site caused delays in diagnosis and treatment.

Our MiniCAT™ scanner is a small, upright CT scanner that creates fast, exceptional-quality images of the ears and sinuses to facilitate ear, sinusitis, and septoplasty treatment for our Minneapolis and Wisconsin patients. MiniCAT™ scans have a significantly lower radiation dose than ear and sinus scans taken on a full-body CT scanner. Because our MiniCAT™ scanner is located in our office, the doctor can take a CT scan during the examination.

Following the scan, which takes only 40 seconds for adults and 20 seconds for children, the doctor is able to review the images with a patient right away. We believe that by counseling and teaching our patients, we help them make the best health care decisions. For this reason, we fully explain what the CT images mean and how they affect the ear, septoplasty, or sinusitis treatment a Minneapolis or Wisconsin patient will receive.

MiniCAT™ scans are safe: the X-ray radiation dose for adults is much lower than sinus and ear scans taken on full-body CT scanners, and the dose for pediatric scans is two times lower than adult scans.

X-ray Radiation Dose Comparison Chart: Type of Exposure; X-ray Radiation Dose; Sinus / Temporal Bone CT Scan
Taken on MiniCAT™ scanner (adult); 0.16 mSv; Sinus / Temporal Bone CT Scan
Taken on full-body CT scanner; 1.0 - 3.0 mSv; Average background radiation exposure
over a one-year period (per person); 3.0 mSv

With MiniCAT™, we can diagnose your problem faster and begin your treatment right away - giving you faster relief from your symptoms.

For more information about MiniCAT™, ask your doctor or visit: www.xorantech.com.

To learn more about any of our services, or to have an evaluation of your sinuses or nasal septum contact our Minneapolis/St. Paul Twin Cities Metro Area clinics today.