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In order to restore the physiology of the nasal cavity, surgery 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 an operation. The problem of a deviated septum is very common, but not as trifling as many people think. People who let such a situation take its course, more often than others suffer from sinusitis, sinusitis, ending in oxygen starvation and a disturbed 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 the genetic causes of the curvature of the nasal septum – the abnormal structure of the nasal cavity can develop due to abnormal intrauterine development of a person.
This is manifested in the displacement or deformation of the bone or cartilage tissue in this area, the appearance of ridge-like protrusions, 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 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 more dangerous 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 occurrence of polyps in the nose, frequent swelling in rhinitis, as well as the establishment of piercings 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 is characterized by 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 in a timely manner, 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 the nose;
- disturbance in the nasal cavity of air dynamics;
- violation of the protective functions of the mucosa;
- the occurrence of oxygen starvation in the body;
- the occurrence of sneezing, spasms in the larynx and other reflex disorders;
- frequent migraines;
- 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 doctor must analyze those oral complaints that he can hear from the patient.
For example, you can think about such a diagnosis with frequent rhinitis or sinusitis, blocking the function of one of the patient’s nostrils, changes in the shape of the nose, the occurrence of nosebleeds, frequent allergic reactions and snoring at night. With two or more such 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 decide 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 severe deformities, internal cysts, aneurysms in this area, or even patient complaints about a sharp deterioration in well-being. Also, an indication for surgery will be a disturbed metabolism, which arose due to oxygen starvation, often tolerated sinusitis, rhinitis, difficulty in nasal breathing and the transition to breathing with the help of the mouth.
All symptoms and diseases in the upper respiratory tract in the case of a deviated septum are very related to each other.
Difficulty breathing occurs due to 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, also suffer from severe sinusitis, which pass into the chronic stage. All of the above diseases cause pain in the head and upper face. These symptoms are a reason to consult a doctor immediately.
With resections of a pituitary tumor, it is also possible to perform operations to restore the nasal septum. This is made possible by using a transseptal transsphenoidal 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 for such a surgical intervention. It is impossible to carry out such an operation for pregnant women, nursing mothers, suffering from type 1 or 2 diabetes mellitus, with oncological diseases, in old age.
It is also not possible to intervene with too large a 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.
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 overall 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 method of surgery to correct the nasal septum is submucosal resection. In this case, the surgeon makes a small arcuate incision on the anterior part of the cartilage of the septum, the mucous membrane is dissected, 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 instruments, the upper layer of the mucous membrane, periosteum and perichondrium is fixed and fixed with cotton swabs. During this operation, there will be no stitches on the face due to the rapid regenerative capacity of the operated tissues.
It is possible to cure a deformed nasal septum 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 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 the second method of operation, although both of them are highly effective. Endoscopy helps to avoid increased trauma, complications, contributes to the speedy recovery 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 deformities are also distinguished.
During the short postoperative period, it is necessary to wear turundas for support and recovery, as well as a gauze fixing bandage in the nose 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, washing the nose. Often, doctors prescribe painkillers to patients, as the nose can hurt. If there is a risk of wound infection, antibiotics are prescribed. After the patient is discharged from the hospital, he will need to be observed weekly by an otolaryngologist to monitor the progress of wound healing and the restoration of nasal health. At the same time, until the special order of the doctor, you can not do physical exertion and eat pepper.
In addition to two surgical methods for restoring the nasal septum, there is also a laser method for non-surgical intervention. With laser septoplasty, when the mucosa is cut, the vessels are glued together, so it is not necessary to apply stitches after such treatment. 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 laser correction, the patient can leave the walls of the medical institution.