In order to restore the physiology of the nasal cavity, surgery is often used, which results in the correction of the nasal septum. Otolaryngologists refer many patients first for x-rays and then for surgery. The problem of nasal septum curvature is very common, but not as trivial as many people think. People who allow such a situation are more likely than others to suffer from sinusitis, sinusitis, resulting in oxygen starvation and harmful metabolic processes in the body.
Causes of curvature
There are only 3 main reasons for this problem - genetic, compensatory or traumatic. Most often, doctors face the genetic causes of curvature of the nasal septum - an abnormal structure of the nasal cavity can develop due to a person’s inadequate intrauterine development.
This is manifested by the displacement or deformation of the bone or cartilage tissue in this area, the appearance of spinal protrusions, the fusion of certain types of tissue, and so on.
Traumatic causes are also common in our age, which by their nature can occur in many athletes, soldiers, and other people who have a professional (or other) chance of a nose fracture.
Mechanical operations are damaged in the nose (in this case, it is not even necessary to break), the nasal septum moves, reducing the internal cavity on one side. This situation is more dangerous in adolescence, when bone and cartilage tissue is actively growing. Under the compensatory causes of nasal septal curvature, experts understand the growth process of adenoids, the occurrence of polyps in the nose, frequent swelling in rhinitis, and the establishment of piercings or dumbbells in the nose.
What is the purpose of the operation?
<1_img_rxx>If rhinoplasty is purely aesthetic and cosmetic in nature and involves only the external factor, the operation of correcting the nasal septum involves a large number of prescriptions.
Such a surgical procedure can correct the shape of the nose, but above all, it is necessary 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, manifested in the fact that it is difficult for a person to breathe air through the nose;
- disturbance of air dynamics in the nasal cavity; impairment of mucosal protective functions;
- occurrence of oxygen starvation in the body; sneezing, laryngeal spasms and other reflex disorders;
- common migraines;
- incidence 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, your doctor should analyze the oral complaints you may hear from the patient.
For example, you may want to consider such a diagnosis for common rhinitis or sinusitis, blockage of one of the patient's nostrils, a change in the shape of the nose, the occurrence of nosebleeds, frequent allergic reactions, and night snoring. In the case of two or more similar complaints, fluoroscopy is prescribed to confirm or refute the diagnosis. The nature, type and shape of the deformity become visible on the X-ray image.
Upon receipt of this information, the person skilled in the art can determine which operation should be performed in this particular case. Sometimes the diagnosis is made using rhinoscopy without the use of an x-ray.
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 about a sudden deterioration in well-being. Surgery may also be an indication of metabolic dysfunction due to oxygen starvation, frequently tolerated sinusitis, rhinitis, difficulty breathing the nose, and switching to oral breathing.
In the case of nasal septal curvature, all the symptoms and diseases of the upper respiratory tract are very closely related.
Breathing difficulties are caused by narrowing of the nasal space, which also increases the likelihood that bacteria will enter the nasal passages. As a result, people with sinusitis, rhinitis, and other diseases that occur in this area, more often than others, suffer from severe sinusitis, which enters a chronic stage. Each of the above diseases causes painful sensations in the head and upper part of the face. Such symptoms cause immediate consultation with a physician.
By resection of the pituitary tumor, it is also possible to restore the nasal septum. This is made possible by the use of transeptal transphenoid access. This type of surgery is also performed in cosmetic rhinoplasty, as in this case a donor is needed, the source of which may be the nasal septum.
There are not too many contraindications to such surgery. In the elderly, such an operation should not be performed on pregnant women, nursing mothers who have type 1 or 2 diabetes mellitus, cancer.
Nor is it possible to perform the intervention with excessive perforation of the septum, cocaine dependence, Wegener's granulomatosis, malignant lymphomas, and T and B cell proliferation. In this case, you can consult your doctor to correct your nasal septum with a laser.
Variety of surgical interventions
If severe curvature of the nasal septum is observed, surgery is recommended as soon as possible. This will determine the patient’s overall well-being and health status in the future. In this case, the operation can be performed in two ways - by submucosal resection or by using endoscopic septoplasty.
The classic technique for nasal septal correction is submucosal resection. In this case, the surgeon makes a small curved incision in the front of the septum cartilage, dissects the mucosa, and then the curved cartilage. The cartilage is then separated from the perichondrium by a special device, removing the parts that need correction while not touching the upper level of the cartilage.
The bony septum is removed with special instruments, the upper layer of the mucosa, the periosteum and the perichondrium are fixed and secured with cotton wool. No stitches are placed on the face during this operation due to the ability of the operated tissues to regenerate quickly.
Deformed nasal septum can be treated more gently - with the help of endoscopic septoplasty.
This modern technique uses an intranasal endoscope to diagnose the deformed areas, their nature, and help remove any excess through the micro-incisions in the mucosa. Together with the endoscope, this technique involves the use of microsurgical devices as well as a computer monitor that displays the entire course of the operation.
In modern medicine, the second surgical method is preferred, although both are extremely effective. Endoscopy helps avoid increased trauma, complications, and promotes early recovery of all nasal function.
Complications and side effects of any type of intervention, bleeding inside the nasal mucosa, bleeding, abscesses, abscesses, purulent sinusitis, and deformity are also possible.
During the short postoperative period, turundas should be worn for support and healing, and a gauze bandage should be used in the nasal area. The patient can only breathe through the mouth until the fourth or fifth day when nasal breathing recovers.
During the entire postoperative period, the specialist monitors the patient, removes the blood cortex, and rinses the nose. Often, doctors prescribe painkillers to patients because the nose can hurt. If there is a risk of wound infection, antibiotics are given. After the patient is discharged from the hospital, he or she should be checked weekly by an otolaryngologist to monitor the progress of wound healing and restore nasal health. However, you may not engage in physical activity or eat pepper until specifically ordered by your doctor.
In addition to the two surgical techniques for nasal septum restoration, there is also a laser technique for non-surgical intervention. With laser septoplasty, the vessels are glued together when the mucosa is cut, so there is no need to apply sutures after such treatment. There is no need to stay in the hospital after this therapy, the surgery itself is performed on an outpatient basis under local anesthesia. One hour after the laser correction, the patient can leave the hospital wall.