In order to restore the physiology of the nasal cavity, surgical intervention is often used, the result of which is correction of the nasal septum. Otolaryngologists refer many of their patients first for X-ray examination, and then for surgery. The problem of nasal septum curvature is very common, but not as insignificant as many think. People who allow such a situation to follow their course are more likely than others to suffer from sinusitis, sinusitis, resulting in oxygen starvation and impaired metabolic process in the body.
Causes of curvature
There are only 3 main reasons for this problem - genetic, compensatory or traumatic. Most often, doctors address the genetic causes of nasal septum curvature - an abnormal structure of the nasal cavity can develop due to improper intrauterine development of a person.
This is manifested in the displacement or deformation of bone or cartilage tissue in this area, the appearance of ridge-like exits, the melting of certain types of tissue, and so on.
Traumatic causes are also common in our time, which by their very nature can occur in many athletes, military and other categories of people who professionally (or otherwise) have a chance of nose fractures.
Mechanical actions damage the nose (it is not even necessary to break it in this case), the nasal septum is displaced, reducing the internal cavity to one side. This situation is dangerous to a greater extent in adolescence, when bone and cartilage tissues are actively growing. Under the compensatory causes of nasal septum curvature, experts understand the process of adenoids growth, the appearance of polyps in the nose, frequent swelling in rhinitis, as well as the placement of perforations or barbs in the nose.
What is the purpose of the operation?
If rhinoplasty is purely aesthetic and cosmetic in nature and affects only the external factor, then surgery to correct the nasal septum has an extensive list of medical prescriptions.
Such a surgical intervention can correct the shape of the nose, but above all, it is required to restore the health of the organ, and not its beauty.
If such an operation is not performed in time, serious health complications can occur, including:
- violation of the correctness of nasal breathing, which is expressed in the fact that it is difficult for a person to breathe air through his nose;
- disturbance in the nasal cavity of air dynamics; impairment of the protective functions of the mucosa;
- the appearance of oxygen starvation in the body; the appearance of sneezing, laryngeal spasms and other reflex disorders;
- frequent migraines;
- the appearance of somatic cough.
Indications and contraindications for surgery
The operation to correct the curvature of the nasal septum is performed after a comprehensive examination of the patient. To begin such an examination, the physician must analyze the oral complaints he may hear from the patient.
For example, you can think of such a diagnosis in the case of frequent rhinitis or sinusitis, blockage of the function of one of the patient's nostrils, changes in the shape of the nose, the appearance of nosebleeds, frequent allergic reactions and snoringduring the night. With two or more similar complaints, fluoroscopy is prescribed, with the help of which the diagnosis is confirmed or rejected. The X-ray image will visualize the nature of the deformity as well as its type and shape.
After receiving this information, the specialist can determine which operation should be performed in this particular case. Sometimes the diagnosis is made using rhinoscopy without the use of x-rays.
The main indications for surgical intervention to correct the nasal septum are pronounced deformities, internal cysts, aneurysms in this area, or even the patient's complaints of a sharp deterioration in well-being. Also, an indication for surgery will be impaired metabolism, which was born due to oxygen starvation, often enduring sinusitis, rhinitis, difficulty breathing through the nose, and passing through the mouth through breathing.
All the symptoms and diseases of the upper respiratory tract in the case of a curvature of the nasal septum are highly interrelated.
Difficulty breathing is caused by the narrowing of the nasal space, which also increases the likelihood that bacteria will enter the nasal passages. For this reason, people suffering from sinusitis, rhinitis and other diseases in this area, more often than others, suffer from severe sinusitis, which returns to a chronic stage. All of the above diseases cause painful sensations in the head and upper part of the face. Such symptoms are the reason for an immediate consultation with a doctor.
With removal of the pituitary tumor, it is also possible to perform surgeries to restore the nasal septum. This is made possible through the use of transphenoidal transseptal access. A surgical intervention of this nature is also performed in cosmetic rhinoplasty, as in this case there is a need for donor cartilage, the source of which may be the nasal septum.
There are not many contraindications to such a surgical intervention. You can not perform such an operation for pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers suffering from type 1 or 2 diabetes, with cancer, in old age.
It is also impossible to perform an intervention with a very large hole in the septum, depending on cocaine, Wegener granulomatosis, malignant lymphoma and T and B cell proliferation. In this case, you can consult a doctor about the correction ofnasal septum using a laser.
Varieties of surgical interventions
If severe curvature of the nasal septum is detected, surgery is recommended as soon as possible. This will determine in the future the general well-being and state of health of the patient. In this case, the operation can be performed in two ways - by submucosal resection or using endoscopic septoplasty.
The classic nasal septum correction technique is submucosal removal. In this case, the surgeon makes a small arched incision in the front of the septal cartilage, dissects the mucous membrane and then the curved cartilage. The cartilage is then separated from the perichondrium using a special tool, the parts that need correction are removed, while the upper level of the cartilage is not affected.
The bony septum is removed using special instruments, the upper layer of mucosa, periosteum and perichondrium is fixed and fixed with cotton swabs. During this operation, no sutures will be placed on the face due to the fast regenerative ability of the operated tissues.
A deformed nasal septum can be healed more gently - with the help of endoscopic septoplasty.
This modern technique, using an intranasal endoscope, diagnoses deformed areas, their nature, and helps remove anything unnecessary through micro-incisions of the mucosa. Along with an endoscope, this technique involves the use of microsurgical instruments, as well as a computer monitor, which shows the entire course of the operation.
In modern medicine, they prefer to use the second method of surgery, although both are very effective. Endoscopy helps avoid increased trauma, complications and promotes early restoration of all nasal functions.
As complications and side effects from any kind of intervention, hemorrhages that occur inside the nasal mucosa, the occurrence of bleeding, abscesses, abscesses and purulent sinusitis and deformity are also possible.
During the short postoperative period, it is necessary to wear turundas for support and healing, as well as a gauze bandage in the nasal area. The patient can breathe only through the mouth, until the fourth or fifth day, when nasal breathing is able to recover.
Throughout the postoperative period, the specialist monitors the patient, removing crusts, rinsing the nose. Often, doctors prescribe pain relievers to patients, as the nose can be damaged. If there is a risk of wound infection, antibiotics are given. Once the patient is discharged from the hospital, he or she will need to be monitored weekly by an otolaryngologist to monitor the progress of wound healing and restore nasal health. At the same time, until the special order of the doctor, you can not perform physical activity and eat pepper.
In addition to two surgical techniques for restoring the nasal septum, there is also a laser technique for non-surgical interventions. With laser septoplasty, when the mucosa is cut, the vessels are glued together, so there is no need to place sutures after such a treatment. After this therapy, there is no need to stay in a hospital, the operation itself is performed on an outpatient basis under local anesthesia. One hour after the laser correction, the patient can leave the hospital walls.