--- title: "Cottle's Classification of Deviated Nasal Septum" description: "Understand the Cottle's classification of Deviated Nasal Septum - ideal for MBBS and ENT students." source: "The ENT Resident" canonical_url: "https://www.theentresident.com/ent-notes-lectures/cottle-classification-dns" categories: ["Rhinology", "Short Questions in ENT"] video: "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YjhNItYI6Nk" image: "https://media.theentresident.com/og-images/cottle-classification-dns.png" --- # Cottle's Classification of Deviated Nasal Septum Understand the Cottle's classification of Deviated Nasal Septum - ideal for MBBS and ENT students. Watch the full video lecture on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YjhNItYI6Nk ## 🩺 Cottle's Classification of Deviated Nasal Septum Cottle's classification is a commonly asked **viva question** in ENT, especially during the discussion of **nasal septum deviations**. It categorizes **Deviated Nasal Septum (DNS)** into three main types based on **symptoms** and **response to decongestants**. ### 📚 Classification: 1. **Simple** - The deviation is present but **does not cause any symptoms**. - Patient usually **does not complain of obstruction**. 2. **Obstructed** - The deviation **causes nasal obstruction**. - However, the obstruction is **relieved with the use of nasal decongestants**. 3. **Impacted** - The deviation **causes nasal obstruction**. - The obstruction **does not improve even with nasal decongestants**. - Indicates a more **fixed or severe deviation**. --- ✅ **Clinical Relevance:** This classification helps in understanding the severity of the obstruction and planning treatment, particularly whether surgical intervention like **septoplasty** is required. --- ## About This Note This note on Cottle's Classification of Deviated Nasal Septum is one of the free ENT study notes published by The ENT Resident. It is free to read on the website, and it is paired with a full video lecture on YouTube. This note is categorized under [Rhinology](https://www.theentresident.com/ent-notes-lectures/category/rhinology.md) and [Short Questions in ENT](https://www.theentresident.com/ent-notes-lectures/category/short-questions-in-ent.md). Each category page lists all the free ENT notes on that topic. Canonical page of this note: https://www.theentresident.com/ent-notes-lectures/cottle-classification-dns When citing or referencing this content, please credit The ENT Resident and link to the canonical page above. ## About The ENT Resident The ENT Resident is a free library of ENT notes and video lectures created by Dr. Mausumi Das (MS ENT), the ENT doctor and educator behind The ENT Resident YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/c/TheENTResident). These notes are written for ENT residents, ENT postgraduates preparing for exams, and MBBS students, to help them learn ENT clearly and score well. 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