We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Conditions

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What Is Saddle Nose?

By Geisha A. Legazpi
Updated: Mar 03, 2024
Views: 13,442
Share

Saddle nose is a nose with a concavity, resulting in relatively reduced nasal length, nasal support, and aesthetics. Aside from giving the nose an unsightly “pug nose” appearance, saddle nose symptoms include nasal obstruction, difficulty breathing, and recurrent respiratory infections. Saddle nose treatment involves knowing the cause, determining the degree of saddling, and performing rhinoplasty.

Causes of saddle nose are genetic, infectious, inflammatory, malignant, autoimmune, drug induced, or trauma associated. Infectious diseases, such as leprosy and syphilis, may also cause nasal saddling. When an infected mother passes on syphilis to the fetus during pregnancy, the infant will have a condition called congenital syphilis, which is characterized by the presence of a saddle nose, blunted and notched upper incisors, inflamed cornea, protruding lower jaw, and short upper jaw. An infant or child with congenital syphilis may also have swollen knees and saber shin, which refers to a malformed and anteriorly bowed tibia.

Inflammatory and autoimmune causes include relapsing perichondritis and Wegener’s disease. In relapsing perichondritis, there is destruction of the cartilaginous structures of the nose, ears, heart valves, eyes, trachea, skin, and blood vessels. In Wegener’s disease, the small and medium-sized blood vessels become inflamed and destroyed by the body’s own immune cells. Aside from a saddle nose deformity that results from destruction of the nasal septum, people with Wegener’s disease have recurrent nosebleeds and respiratory infections, which may be accompanied with neurological, renal, and cardiac problems.

One notorious cause of saddle nose is drug abuse. Cocaine or heroin sniffing can lead to the formation of holes or perforations in the nasal septum, leading to saddling of the nose. Malignant causes include a type of T cell lymphoma called lethal midline granulomatous disease. Malignancies in the paranasal sinuses may also metastasize to the nose, leading to loss of nasal structural integrity and subsequent saddling deformity.

Trauma or previous nasal surgeries can also lead to this kind of deformity. Direct trauma can destroy the bony and/or the cartilaginous part of the nasal septum. When caused by trauma, infection and abscess formation may follow, leading to the need for more intensive treatment. Previous rhinoplasties or nasal surgeries may also lead to this deformity.

Some saddle nose cases require medical intervention based on the underlying cause. Treatment with penicillin is needed for syphilis, while corticosteroids and immunosuppressants are needed for Wegener’s granulomatosis. Surgery is done according to patient preference, underlying cause, and presence of symptoms. When there is nasal obstruction or septal perforation, it is best to do nasal reconstructive surgery or rhinoplasty.

Share
The Health Board is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Discussion Comments
Share
https://www.thehealthboard.com/what-is-saddle-nose.htm
Copy this link
The Health Board, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

The Health Board, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.