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 the 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 nasal septal curvature: An abnormal structure of the nasal cavity can develop due to improper intrauterine development of a person.
This manifests itself in the displacement or deformation of the bone or cartilage tissue in this area, the appearance of ridge-like bumps, the fusion of certain types of tissues, and so on.
Traumatic causes are also common in our time, which by their nature can occur in many athletes, military and other categories of people who professionally (or otherwise) have the possibility 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 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 include the growth process 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 an extensive list of medical prescriptions.
Such a surgical intervention can correct the shape of the nose, but first of all it is necessary to restore the health of the organ, and not its beauty.
If this is not done 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 inhale air through the nose;
- disturbance in the nasal cavity of air dynamics; impaired 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 complete examination of the patient. To initiate such an examination, the doctor must analyze the oral complaints he may hear from the patient.
For example, you can think of 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, the appearance of epistaxis, frequent allergic reactions and night snoring. 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 display the nature of the deformity as well as the type and shape.
Upon receipt of this information, the specialist can determine what 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 surgery 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 passage to breathing through the mouth.
All symptoms and diseases of the upper respiratory tract in the case of a curvature of the nasal septum are 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 turns 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 perform operations to restore the nasal septum. This becomes possible thanks to the use of transseptal transphenoidal access. Surgery of this nature is also performed in cosmetic rhinoplasty, since in this case the donor cartilage is required, the source of which may be the nasal septum.
There are not too many contraindications for such a surgery. It is not possible to perform such an operation for pregnant women, nursing mothers with type 1 or 2 diabetes mellitus, with cancer, in old age.
It is also impossible to perform surgery with too large perforation of the septum, with addiction to cocaine, Wegener's granulomatosis, malignant lymphomas and proliferation of T and B lymphocytes. In this case, you can consult a doctor about correcting the nasal septum using a laser.
Variety of surgical interventions
If severe curvature of the nasal septum is detected, surgery is recommended as soon as possible. This will determine the patient's general well-being and state of health in the future. In this case, the operation can be performed in two ways: by submucosal resection or by using endoscopic septoplasty.
The classic nasal septal correction technique is submucosal resection. In this case, the surgeon makes a small arched incision on the anterior part of the septal cartilage, dissects the mucosa 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 bone septum is removed using special tools, the upper layer of the mucosa, the periosteum and the perichondrium are fixed and fixed with cotton swabs. During this operation no sutures will be applied to the face due to the rapid regenerative capacity of the operated tissues.
A deformed nasal septum can be treated more gently, with the help of endoscopic septoplasty.
This modern technique, using an intranasal endoscope, diagnoses deformed areas, their nature and helps to remove all unnecessary through microincisions of the mucosa. Together with an endoscope, this technique involves the use of microsurgical tools, 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 are highly effective. Endoscopy helps to avoid an increase in trauma, complications and promotes the early restoration of all nasal functions.
As complications and side effects of any type of intervention, hemorrhages occurring inside the nasal mucosa, the onset of bleeding, abscesses, abscesses and purulent sinusitis and deformation are also possible.
During the short postoperative period, turundas should be worn for support and recovery, as well as a gauze fastening bandage in the nasal area. The patient can only breathe through the mouth, until the fourth or fifth day, when nasal breathing is able to recover.
The entire period after the operation, the specialist checks the patient, removing blood crusts, rinsing the nose. Doctors often prescribe painkillers to patients, as the nose can hurt. If there is a risk of wound infection, antibiotics are given. After the patient has been discharged from the hospital, they 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, up to the special order of the doctor, it is not possible to perform physical activity and eat pepper.
In addition to two surgical techniques for nasal septal restoration, there is also a laser technique for non-surgical intervention. With 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 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.