In order to restore the physiology of the nasal cavity, surgical intervention is often used, the result of which is the correction of the nasal septum. Otolaryngologists refer many of their patients first for X-ray examination, and then for surgery. The problem of curvature of the nasal septum is very common, but not as trivial as many think. People who let such a situation take 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 are faced with genetic causes of curvature of the nasal septum - 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 the bone or cartilaginous tissue in this area, the appearance of ridge-like protrusions, the fusion of certain types of tissues, and so on.
Frequent in our time are traumatic causes, which by their nature can occur in many athletes, military people and other categories of people who professionally (or in other ways) have a chance of nose fractures.
Mechanical actions injure the nose (it is not even necessary to break it in this case), the nasal septum is displaced, reducing the internal cavity on one side. This situation is dangerous to a greater extent in adolescence, when bone and cartilage tissue is actively growing. Under the compensatory causes of curvature of the nasal septum, experts understand the process of growth of adenoids, the occurrence of polyps in the nose, frequent swelling in rhinitis, as well as the establishment of piercings or barbells in the nose.
What is the operation for?
If rhinoplasty is purely aesthetic and cosmetic in nature and affects only the external factor, then the operation to correct the nasal septum has a large list of medical prescriptions.
Such a surgical intervention can correct the shape of the nose, but first of all, it is required to restore the health of the organ, and not its beauty.
If such an operation is not carried out on time, serious health complications may occur, including:
- violation of the correctness of nasal breathing, which is expressed in the fact that it is difficult for a person to inhale air through his nose;
- disturbance in the nasal cavity of air dynamics; impairment of the protective functions of the mucous membrane;
- the occurrence of oxygen starvation in the body; the occurrence of sneezing, spasms in the larynx and other reflex disorders;
- frequent migraines;
- the occurrence 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 that he may hear from the patient.
For example, you can think about such a diagnosis in case of frequent rhinitis or sinusitis, blockage of the function of one of the patient's nostrils, changes in the shape of the nose, occurrence of 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 deformity, as well as its type and shape.
Upon receipt of this information, the specialist can determine which operation should be carried out in this particular case. Sometimes the diagnosis is carried out 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 about a sharp deterioration in well-being. Also, an indication for surgery will be impaired metabolism, which has arisen due to oxygen starvation, often endured sinusitis, rhinitis, difficulty in nasal breathing and the transition to breathing through the mouth.
All symptoms and diseases in the upper respiratory tract in the case of a curvature of the nasal septum are very closely related to each other.
Difficulty breathing is caused by the 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, more often than others, suffer from severe sinusitis, which turn into 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 resections of the pituitary tumor, it is also possible to carry out operations to restore the nasal septum. This becomes possible through the use of transseptal transphenoidal access. A surgical intervention of this nature is also performed with cosmetic rhinoplasty, since in this case there is a need for donor cartilage, the source of which can be the nasal septum.
There are not too many contraindications for such a surgical intervention. You can not carry out such an operation for pregnant women, nursing mothers suffering from type 1 or 2 diabetes mellitus, with cancer, in old age.
It is also impossible to carry out intervention with too large perforation of the septum, with cocaine addiction, Wegener's granulomatosis, malignant lymphomas and proliferation of T and B cells. In this case, you can get advice from doctors about the correction of the nasal septum using a laser.
Types of surgical interventions
If a 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 technique of nasal septum correction is submucosal resection. In this case, the surgeon makes a small-sized arcuate incision on the front of the septal cartilage, dissects the mucous membrane, and then the curved cartilage. Then the cartilage is 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 the mucous membrane, periosteum and perichondrium is fixed and fixed with cotton swabs. During this operation, no stitches will be applied on the face due to the rapid regenerative capacity of the operated tissues.
A 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 deformed areas, their nature, and helps to remove everything unnecessary through micro-incisions of the mucous membrane. Together with an 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 the second method of surgery, although both of them are highly effective. Endoscopy helps to avoid increased trauma, complications, and promotes the early restoration of all nasal functions.
As complications and side effects from any type of intervention, hemorrhages occurring inside the nasal mucosa, the occurrence of bleeding, abscesses, abscesses, and purulent sinusitis and deformation are also possible.
During the short postoperative period, it is necessary to wear turundas for support and recovery, as well as a gauze fixing 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.
The entire period after the operation, the specialist monitors the patient, removing blood crusts, rinsing the nose. Often, doctors prescribe pain relievers to patients, as the nose can hurt. If there is a risk of wound infection, antibiotics are given. After the patient is discharged from the hospital, he will need to be monitored weekly by an otolaryngologist to monitor the progress of wound healing and restore the health of the nose. At the same time, until the special order of the doctor, you cannot 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 intervention. With laser septoplasty, when the mucous membrane is cut, the vessels are glued together, so there is no need to apply sutures after such 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. An hour after the laser correction, the patient can leave the walls of the hospital.