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 an 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 this situation run its course are more likely than others to suffer from sinusitis, sinusitis, resulting in a lack of oxygen 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 - 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 ridges in the form of ridges, the fusion of certain types of tissues, etc.
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 injure the nose (it is not even necessary to break it in this case), the nasal septum shifts, 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 the curvature of the nasal septum, experts understand the process of growth of adenoids, the appearance of polyps in the nose, the frequent swelling in rhinitis, and the establishment of perforations or bars 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 necessary to restore the health of the organ, and not its beauty.
If such an operation is not performed in time, serious health complications can occur, including:
- violation of the correction of nasal breathing, which is expressed in the fact that it is difficult for a person to inhale air through the nose;
- alteration in the nasal cavity of air dynamics; deterioration of the protective functions of the mucous membrane;
- the appearance of a lack of oxygen in the body; the appearance of sneezing, spasms in the larynx 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 carried out 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 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 nosebleeds, frequent allergic reactions and snoring. nocturnal. 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 receiving this information, the specialist can determine which operation should be performed in this particular case. Sometimes the diagnosis is made by 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 sharp deterioration in well-being. Also, an indication for surgery will be altered metabolism, which has arisen due to lack of oxygen, often sinusitis, rhinitis, nasal shortness of breath, and the transition to mouth breathing.
All the symptoms and diseases in the upper respiratory tract in the case of a curvature of the nasal septum are closely related to each other.
Difficulty breathing is due to 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 becomes a chronic stage. All the above diseases provoke 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 is made possible through the use of a transseptal transhenoidal approach. A surgical intervention of this nature is also performed in 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 to such a surgical intervention. You can not perform 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 perform an intervention with too large perforation of the septum, with cocaine addiction, Wegener's granulomatosis, malignant lymphomas and proliferation of T and B lymphocytes. In this case, you can consult a doctor about laser nasal septum correction.
Varieties of surgical interventions.
If a severe 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 performed in two ways: by submucosal resection or by endoscopic septoplasty.
The classic technique for correction of the nasal septum is submucosal resection. In this case, the surgeon makes a small arched incision in the front of the septal cartilage, dissects the mucous membrane, 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 bony septum is removed with special instruments, the upper layer of the mucous membrane, the periosteum and the perichondrium is fixed and fixed with cotton swabs. During this operation, stitches will not be applied to the face due to the rapid regenerative capacity of the operated tissues.
A deformed nasal septum can be healed in a more gentle way, with the help of an endoscopic septoplasty.
This modern technique, by means of an intranasal endoscope, diagnoses the deformed areas, their nature, and helps to eliminate everything unnecessary through micro-incisions of the mucosa. Along with an endoscope, this technique involves the use of microsurgical instruments, as well as a computer monitor, showing the entire course of the operation.
In modern medicine, they prefer to use the second surgical method, although both are very effective. Endoscopy helps prevent further trauma and complications and promotes early restoration of all nasal functions.
As complications and side effects of any type of intervention, hemorrhages that occur within the nasal mucosa, the appearance of hemorrhages, abscesses, abscesses and purulent sinusitis and deformations are also possible.
During the short postoperative period, the use of support and recovery turudes is necessary, as well as a fixing gauze bandage in the nasal area. The patient can breathe only through the mouth, until the fourth or fifth day, when nasal breathing can recover.
The entire period after the operation, the specialist monitors the patient, removes blood crusts and rinses the nose. Doctors often 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 ENT specialist 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 can not engage in 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. With laser septoplasty, when the mucous membrane is cut, the vessels stick together, so there is no need to apply sutures after such treatment. After this therapy, it is not necessary to stay in a hospital, the operation itself is performed on an outpatient basis under local anesthesia. An hour after laser correction, the patient can leave the walls of the hospital.