In order to restore the physiology of the nasal cavity, surgical interventions are 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 nasal septum curvature is very common, but not as trivial as many think. People who let such a situation go their way more often than others suffer from sinusitis, sinusitis, which results in oxygen starvation and disturbed metabolic process in the body.
Causes of curvature
There are only 3 main reasons for this problem - genetic, compensatory or traumatic. Doctors are most often faced with the genetic causes of nasal septal curvature - an abnormal structure of the nasal cavity can develop due to improper intrauterine development of a person.
This is manifested in the movement or deformation of bone or cartilage tissue in this area, the appearance of ridge-like protrusions, the fusion of certain types of tissue, and so on.
In our time, traumatic causes are also common, which by their nature can occur in many athletes, military personnel and other categories of people who professionally (or in other ways) have a chance of nasal fractures.
Mechanical actions injured the nose (in this case it is not even necessary to break it), the nasal septum is displaced, reducing the internal cavity on one side. This situation is more dangerous to a greater extent in adolescence, when bone and cartilage tissue are actively growing. Under the compensatory causes of the curvature of the nasal septum, experts include the process of adenoid growth, the appearance of polyps in the nose, frequent swelling in rhinitis, as well as the establishment of piercings or cataracts in the nose.
What is the purpose of the operation?
If rhinoplasty is exclusively of aesthetic and cosmetic nature and affects only the external factor, then nasal septum correction surgery has a large list of medical prescriptions.
Such surgery can correct the shape of the nose, but above all it is needed to restore the health of the organ, not its beauty.
If such surgery is not performed on time, serious health complications can occur, including:
- violation of the correctness of nasal breathing, which is expressed in the fact that a person has difficulty breathing air through the nose;
- disturbance in the nasal cavity of air dynamics; impairment of the protective functions of the mucosa;
- the occurrence of oxygen starvation in the body; occurrence of sneezing, laryngeal cramps and other reflex disorders;
- frequent migraines;
- occurrence of somatic cough.
Indications and contraindications for surgery
Surgery 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 about 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, nosebleeds, frequent allergic reactions and snoring at night. With 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.
After receiving this information, the specialist can determine which operation should be performed in a particular case. Sometimes the diagnosis is made by 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 sudden deterioration in well-being. Also, an indication for surgery will be a disturbed metabolism caused by oxygen starvation, frequently tolerated sinusitis, rhinitis, nasal breathing difficulties and the transition to mouth breathing.
All the symptoms and diseases of the upper respiratory tract in the case of curvature of the nasal septum are very closely related.
Breathing difficulties are caused by narrowing of the nasal space, which also increases the likelihood of bacteria entering the nasal passages. For this reason, people who suffer from sinusitis, rhinitis and other diseases in this area, more often than others, suffer from severe sinusitis, which progresses to a chronic phase. All of the above diseases cause painful sensations in the head and upper face. Such symptoms are the reason for urgent consultation with a doctor.
When resecting pituitary tumors, it is also possible to perform operations to restore the nasal septum. This becomes possible using a transseptal transphenoid approach. Surgical intervention of this nature is also performed in cosmetic rhinoplasty, because in this case there is a need for donor cartilage whose source can be the nasal septum.
There are not too many contraindications for such surgery. You cannot perform such an operation on pregnant women, nursing mothers who suffer from type 1 or 2 diabetes mellitus, with cancer, in old age.
It is also impossible to report an intervention with excessive perforation of the septum, with cocaine dependence, Wegener's granulomatosis, malignant lymphomas, and T and B cell proliferation. In this case, you can consult a doctor to correct the nasal septum with a laser.
Various surgical interventions
If a serious curvature of the nasal septum is detected, surgery is recommended as soon as possible. This will determine the general well-being and health of the patient in the future. In this case, the operation can be reported 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 bow shape on the front of the cartilage septum, dissects the mucosa, and then the curved cartilage. Then the cartilage is separated from the perichondrium with a special tool, the parts that need correction are removed, while the upper level of the cartilage is not affected.
The bone septum is removed using special instruments, the upper layer of the mucosa, periosteum and perichondria is fixed and fixed with cotton swabs. During this operation, no sutures will be applied to the face due to the fast regenerative ability of the operated tissues.
A deformed nasal septum can be cured in a gentler way - with the help of endoscopic septoplasty.
This modern technique, using an intranasal endoscope, diagnoses deformed areas, their nature and helps to remove all unnecessary micro-incisions of the mucosa. Together with the endoscope, this technique involves the use of microsurgical instruments, as well as a computer monitor, which displays the entire course of the operation.
In modern medicine, they prefer to use another method of surgery, although both are very effective. Endoscopy helps to avoid increased trauma, complications and promotes early restoration of all nasal functions.
As complications and side effects of any type of intervention, bleeding within the nasal mucosa, bleeding, abscess, abscess and purulent sinusitis and deformity are also possible.
During the short postoperative period, it is necessary to wear turunds for support and recovery, as well as a bandage to strengthen the gauze in the nasal area. The patient can only breathe through the mouth, until the fourth or fifth day, when nasal breathing can recover.
Throughout the period after the operation, the specialist monitors the patient, removes the blood crust and rinses the nose. Doctors often prescribe painkillers to patients because their nose can hurt. If there is a risk of wound infection, antibiotics are given. After the patient is discharged from the hospital, the otorhinolaryngologist will need to monitor him weekly to monitor the progress of wound healing and restore nasal health. At the same time, until a special doctor's order, you can not engage in physical activity and eat pepper.
In addition to the two surgical techniques for restoring 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, so that after such treatment there is no need to apply sutures. After this therapy, there is no need to stay in the 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.