To restore the physiology of the nasal cavity, surgery is often used, the result of which is the correction of the nasal septum. Otolaryngologists refer many of their patients first for an X-ray and then for surgery. The problem of curvature of the nasal septum is very common, but not as trivial as many people think. People who let such a situation develop are more likely than others to suffer from sinusitis, sinusitis, which leads to oxygen starvation and impaired metabolic process in the body.
Causes of curvature
There are only 3 main causes for this problem - genetic, compensatory or traumatic. Most often, doctors are faced with genetic causes of curvature of the nasal septum - an abnormal structure of the nasal cavity may 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 vertebral protrusions, the fusion of certain types of tissue, etc.
Traumatic causes are also common in our time, which inherently can occur in many athletes, servicemen and other categories of people who professionally (or in other ways) have a chance of nasal fractures.
Mechanical actions injure the nose (in this case you do not even need to break it), the nasal septum is displaced, reducing the internal cavity on one side. This situation is more dangerous in adolescence, when bone and cartilage tissue are actively growing. Under the compensatory reasons for the curvature of the nasal septum, experts understand the process of growth of the adenoids, the appearance of polyps in the nose, frequent swelling in rhinitis, as well as the establishment of piercings or bars in the nose.
What is the operation for?
If the rhinoplasty has a purely aesthetic and cosmetic character and affects only the external factor, then the operation to correct the nasal septum has a large list of medical prescriptions.
Such surgery can correct the shape of the nose, but in the first place it is required to restore the health of the organ, 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 a person finds it difficult to breathe air through his nose;
- disturbance in the nasal cavity of air dynamics; violation 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 thorough examination of the patient. To begin such an examination, the doctor must analyze the oral complaints that he may hear from the patient.
For example, you can consider 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 snoring at night. In case of two or more similar complaints, fluoroscopy is prescribed, with the help of which the diagnosis is confirmed or refuted. The X-ray image will visualize the nature of the deformation, as well as its type and shape.
Upon receipt of this information, the specialist can determine which operation should be performed in the particular case. Sometimes the diagnosis is made with the help of 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 complaints of the patient for a sharp deterioration in well-being. Also, an indication for surgery will be impaired metabolism, which has arisen due to oxygen starvation, often suffering from sinusitis, rhinitis, nasal breathing difficulties and the transition to oral breathing.
All the symptoms and diseases of the upper respiratory tract in case of curvature of the nasal septum are very closely related.
Difficulty breathing is caused by narrowing of the nasal space, which also increases the likelihood of bacteria entering the nasal passages. For this reason, people suffering from sinusitis, rhinitis and other diseases in this area are more likely than others to suffer from severe sinusitis, which becomes chronic. All of the above diseases cause painful sensations in the head and upper face. Such symptoms are a reason to consult a doctor immediately.
When resecting a pituitary tumor, it is also possible to perform operations to restore the nasal septum. This is made possible by the use of transseptal transphenoidal access. 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 too many contraindications for such surgery. You cannot perform such an operation on pregnant women, nursing mothers with type 1 or type 2 diabetes, with cancer, in old age.
It is also impossible to perform an intervention with too large perforation of the septum, with cocaine addiction, Wegener's granulomatosis, malignant lymphomas and T and B cell proliferation. In this case, you can consult a doctor about the correction of the nasal septum with the help of a laser.
Varieties of surgical interventions
If a severe curvature of the nasal septum is detected, surgery as soon as possible is recommended. This will determine the general well-being and health of the patient in the future. In this case, the operation can be performed in two ways - by submucosal resection or using endoscopic septoplasty.
The classic technique of nasal septum correction is submucosal resection. In this case, the surgeon makes a small arcuate incision in the front of the septal cartilage, dissects the mucosa and then the curved cartilage. The cartilage is then removed from the perichondrium using a special tool, the parts that need correction are removed until the upper level of the cartilage is affected.
The bone septum is removed with the help of special tools, the upper layer of the mucosa, periosteum and perichondrium is fixed and fixed with cotton swabs. No sutures will be placed on the face during this operation due to the rapid regenerative ability of the operated tissues.
Deformed nasal septum can be cured in a more gentle way - with the help of endoscopic septoplasty.
This modern technique, using an intranasal endoscope, diagnoses the deformed areas, their nature and helps to remove everything unnecessary through microincisions of the mucosa. Along with an endoscope, this technique involves the use of microsurgical instruments as well as a computer monitor that shows the entire course of the operation.
In modern medicine, they prefer to use the second method of surgery, although both are highly effective. Endoscopy helps to avoid increased trauma, complications and promotes early recovery of all nasal functions.
As complications and side effects of any type of intervention are possible and hemorrhages occurring inside the nasal mucosa, the appearance of bleeding, abscesses, abscesses and purulent sinusitis and deformity.
During the short postoperative period it is necessary to wear turundi for support and recovery, as well as gauze, fixing a bandage in the nose. The patient can only breathe through the mouth, until the fourth or fifth day, when nasal breathing is able to recover.
Throughout the period after the operation, the specialist observes the patient, removing blood crusts, rinsing the nose. Doctors often prescribe painkillers to patients because the nose can hurt. 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 a special order of the doctor, you can not perform physical activity and eat pepper.
In addition to two surgical techniques to restore the nasal septum, there is also a laser technique for non-surgical intervention. In laser septoplasty, when the mucosa is cut, the vessels are glued together, so there is no need to apply sutures after such treatment. After this therapy it is not necessary to stay in hospital, the operation itself is performed on an outpatient basis under local anesthesia. An hour after the laser correction, the patient can leave the hospital walls.