X-ray (radiography) of the bones of the nose

An x-ray of the bones of the nose is necessary not only to confirm or refute suspicions about possible fracture. The technique is used for a number of other situations when the doctor needs to make an accurate diagnosis, as well as to identify the degree, volume and features of damage to any etiology of the specified zone. This may be a common inflammatory process, or it may be an infectious lesion with an extensive spectrum of action.

To determine the further course of treatment, whether it is alternative restorative therapy or emergency surgery, the result of an x-ray will be required. It is a kind of black and white Photos, which convey the state of not only the immediate bone structure, but also the surrounding tissues. The rule does not apply only to cartilage, which cannot be examined in detail with x-rays.

But most often wizards send for examinationto clarify which in a patient fracture: normal, displaced, splintered. In the latter case, the received informtion can become something like a navigator for subsequent surgical intervention.

Urgent and elective procedure

Schematically, all directions to such a diagnostic room can be sorted into two varieties: urgent and planned. The category of the first includes patients who were admitted to the ambulance, or got to the medical institution on their own, but need an emergency medical care after a facial injury. This can be a blow directly to the nose, or any other form of mechanical damage without displacement and with it.

To study the situation as a whole wizards carry out the manipulation in several projections at once: direct and lateral. Based on the information received, successfully draw up a program of priority measures to improve the well-being of the victim. Sometimes the resulting images are saved specifically to use them and a detailed medical report as evidence in a criminal case involving bodily harm.

For planned scenarios diagnostics it’s about control fusion of damaged bones and restore the functionality of the nasal cavity. The procedure is scheduled for periodical basis during the entire course of treatment, or immediately after its completion. Scrupulousness in the implementation of such medical recommendations will make it possible to follow dynamics recovery, and may also become the basis for correcting the course of treatment if result will be unsatisfactory.

In order to conduct a thorough treatment, the doctor must receive several images taken in different projections at once:

• left side;
• straight;
• the right side.

Straightth projection allows you to deal with pathological condition at the moment, if nagent a fracture was found along with any type of displacement. Here are the remaining two projections necessary to establish the degree of damage on each side.

Occasionally, the doctor will insist on using a rare projection format this area – nasopharyngeal. She will tell you how much the bones have moved from their initially normal position.

If a patient has an impression fracture, then the displacement will be fixed exclusively along the transverse plane. Axial projection will allow to confirm medical fears.

Gathering everything necessary options for visualization, radiologist determine which one view damage to the bone structure of the nose takes place in this situations:

• oblique;
• transverse;
• direct;
• no offset;
• in the form of a beak;
• multisegmented.

Separately considered optionwhen only the nasal septum is broken. Do not assume that this is much better than a crack in the bone. With severe destruction, the patient will face severe hemorrhage in the paranasal sinuses. In the picture of the nasopharyngeal region, unusual formations will be clearly visible. But due to the characteristics of the cartilaginous nasal partitions do not count on the fact that the callus is formed quickly.

An equally dangerous consequence nose injury air entering the frontal region of the skull is considered. X-ray will indicate the presence of an air bubble, which is deployed in the upper part and near the frontal bones, if this does happen. With all of the above, it is impossible to delay, since a deterioration in well-being can occur literally in a matter of hours.

Normal performance

The norm for an x-ray of a healthy person is identical for adults and children. The difference lies only in the size of one or another part. Good visualization will allow you to see the following sinuses on it:

• maxillary;
• frontal;
• paranasal;
• lattice.

The latter can be considered only if the radiologist asks the ward to turn his head in a special way. Also, the image will tell you if the cells located in the temporal bone are in order.

After the treating doctor will receive the results Survey, it will take time for him to estimate for the patient the conclusion of the radiologist. In the official concluding a competent radiologist will definitely affect such metrics like:

• walls of the nasal bones;
• state sinus;
• state ethmoid bone.

If the edges of the walls have clear outlines, representing thin-walled formations, then everything is fine. A stable state is evidenced by the identical airiness of both sinuses, which says about the absence of an inflammatory process. Also within the normal range information that the cells are viewed without problems.

Doctors with experience they warn that it is better not to throw away the first picture if the doctor allows you to take it with you. His sweat need to use for comparison with subsequent images taken at the end of the prescribed therapy.

When X-Ray Is Not Necessary

In addition to the fact that the patient will be sent to the X-ray room if a fracture or crack in the nasal area, there are other reasons for referrals for such examination.. A striking example of this is periostitis, or any other disease in the acute stage of the course, or in a chronic form.

Among the other most common reasons for applications radiation exposure for the purpose of diagnosis, can name:

• foreign bodies;
• sinusitis;
• curvature of the nasal septum;
• neoplasms benign and malignant;
• osteomyelitis;
• polyps;
• cyst.

Don’t miss out on a trip to the office. radiography those people who are scheduled for surgery on the face or sinuses. Control snobody will allow clarifying the anatomical features that could become an obstacle to surgical intervention according to the standard scheme.

One of the most important advantages of radiography is the absence of any serious preparation. the only diagnostic requirement is нnecessaryIt is possible to first remove jewelry and other metal objects, availability which can adversely affect the clarity of subsequenttheir status assessment results nasal area.

Separately, it is necessary to warn the doctor if a person has embedded metal parts in the area under study. Sometimes, in order to avoid unnecessary stress on problem areas, doctors recommend replacing the classic X-ray with a gentle alternative.

The manipulation itself lasts no more than a couple of minutes. The laboratory assistant will seat the victim in front of the protective screen so that he rests his nose and chin directly on the shield of the apparatus.

Some residents believe that such proximity to a source of radiation will negatively affect their well-being in the future. In fact, technology-developers calculated the dosage of incoming rays, which is in admissible limits for an adult. This means that at one time the patient will receive radiation, which in terms of power not critical will exceed the daily dosage in the natural habitat.

Possible harm

No significant harm organism like research will not bring, unless in a short period of time this person does not have x-rays several times. Moreover, this applies to the study of various parts of the body, as well as the involvement of computed tomography. Also the reason for avoiding the frequent use of this diagnostic and changing it date for a more distant period can become weakened immunityagent due to a recent serious illness, psycho-emotional stress. But this contraindication areare relative.

Doctors so called restrictions, which can sometimes be ignored if the benefit from the received results turns out to be an order of magnitude greater than the possible harm done.

Here comes the pregnancy areare an absolute contraindication. Moreover, the ban applies to all terms of the interesting situation, since carries threat to significantly harm the normal course of fetal development. In the future it threatens lead to mental or physical pathologies in a child due to exposure to radiation during fetal development.

If it is impossible to manage with alternative methods like ultrasound, then pregnant women still have to take risks in situations where examination result their life depends.

For insurance, they are given special lead aprons covering their stomachs.

Any other visitor to the diagnostic room receives the same protection in order to cover especially vulnerable areas of the genital organs and the thyroid gland.

Due to the fact that the devices are usually set to supply the maximum allowable dosage calculated for an adult, children under 15 years of age are not recommended to be subjected to such a load. The only exception is a suspicion of pneumonia, or a foreign body that has fallen into the nasal passage.

It is believed that equipment that is already more than twenty to twenty-five years old requires “write-off” and cancellation of use for diagnostic purposes. The reason for this is the increased radiation effect on the body. Digital similar machines do not affect the body as much, using an identical technique and even providing higher quality images.

The average allowable exposure dose is 5 mSv per year. Despite the fact that the standard for the inspection of the bow has low radiation levels, the annual rate includes accounting for:

• fluorography;
• radiography of other organs;
• computed tomography;
• natural radiation.

Because of this, people who for some reason often have to do x-ray control according to the condition of the nasal septum or sinuses, it is better not to exceed the allowable two times a year. All other times it is better to use the services of magnetic resonance tomographywhich works in a different way, and does not use x-rays.

In general, in private clinics, doctors record each case of X-rays in a special card called the Dose Sheet. But in most clinics they don’t do this, leaving everything to control the patients themselves.

What will the result say?

Depending on what disease the doctor suspects, he will pay attention to certain areas. surveyed area. If the patient has pronounced signs of sinusitis of the initial stage, or has passed into a neglected form, radiography will show:

• thickening along the border of the sinus wall, which may indicate catarrhal sinusitis;
• a clear boundary between the mucosa and the bone edge can indicate chronic sinusitis without exacerbation;
• a smooth border between the mucous membrane and the bone base often indicates sinusitis, which is in the acute phase;
• additional circuit can speak that the patient had experienced an acute stage of sinusitis prior to coming to diagnostics.

Sometimes a rounded cavity with absolutely regular edges becomes a cause for concern. Such an accurate pictureleads the radiologist to the idea of on the development of a cyst in a patient. And the presence of strange objects, notcharacteristic of normal clinical picture, will tell you the exact location of the foreign object.

When a black-and-white “photo” shows thickening of the mucosa, this will be a reason to suspect hyperplastic sinusitis. With his exudative character, it will turn out to consider the darkening of the sinus, where the horizontal level of the liquid is visible.

Separately, cases of treatment with allergic sinusitis, or vasomotor rhinitis. Here, too, the mucous membrane thickens. But the difference lies in the fact that in a short time interval it turns out to consider a different picture of the bone structure.

An experienced radiologist will even see a neoplasm in the picture. But only a number of auxiliary methods can confirm whether the detected tumor is malignant or benign. surveys.

The curvature of the nasal septum is clearly visible, which indicates congenital anomalies, or an incorrectly fused fracture.

X-ray in case of trauma

X-ray for nasal injuries is the first diagnostic measure that will tell you the extent of the lesion. She will tell you about the current state:

• bones;
• moves;
• soft fabric.

Doctors with experience insist that patients with suspected injuries go straight to the centers where the digital device works. This allows you to see result immediately after the procedure, as снимок displayed directly on the computer screen. It can be saved by writing to digital media, or asked to print on paper. or film along with the conclusion.

Improved graphics quality paintings will lead to the following changes:

• ingress of foreign objects;
• fragment detection;
• determination of the fracture line;
• fixing the offset, if it has a place to be.

Moreover, the faster it is donea x-ray, the higher the chances of starting emergency assistance not blindly, but guided by the data received. Due to the verified treatment tactics, it will be possible not only to reduce the pain syndrome, that is, to provide symptomatic assistance, but also to influence the main cause of the pathology, and then, using the same diagnostics, control the recovery process in dynamics.

Examination of children

It is especially difficult to deal with injuries that are recorded in children. Their injuries are also divided into three groups: light, medium, heavy. But to detect a fine line between them can be quite problematic at an early age, which is caused by the peculiarities of the nasal structures, where cartilage predominates. Because of this, most traumatologists or otolaryngologists uncertain X-ray results prefer to send the youngagent do a survey again. For this, a magnetic resonance diagnostic method is better suited, or computed tomography, if there are no additional contraindications The child has.

The fact that the baby was injured will be indicated by the following points from the conclusion of the radiologist:

• hematoma;
• weak bottom edge;
• bone fracture;
• crack of quadrangular cartilage;
• hole curvature.

An important point for establishing the exact severity of the lesion should be the indicators of the seams. If the bruise turned out to be light, then the cartilage between the bones remains intact, as it does not crack and remains fixed in place.

Children’s types of deformity include compaction of the canopy of the nasal vault, as well as the introduction of bones between the frontal processes. This leads to the fact that the nasal back sinks, and the distance between the bones increases.

Attention should be paid to possible hemorrhages. But radiography will not allow them to be detected due to its functional limitations, therefore, rhinoscopy is indispensable.

Doctors note that most often in crumbs, lateral displacements of the bone to the right side are fixed, which is usually caused by a blow to the left side of the face with the right hand.

Methodology for health

Diagnostics, which has been used for more than a decade, is necessary to detect deviations at any stage of their development. But it is most effective to use the benefit of civilization at the very beginning of the course of treatment. Otherwise, with self-treatment, you can stumble upon a number of negative consequences:

• hemorrhage;
• bone destruction;
• violation of respiratory activity;
• curvature of the septum;
• cartilage fractures;
• damage to nerve endings;
• destabilization of the activity of the vascular network.

The easiest way is for those victims who have confirmed a classic fracture, because it can heal on its own. The patient will only be required to periodically take a control picture to check recovery. But if it turns out that the fracture has a displacement, then you can’t do without special traumatological structures. How long to walk in them and how many times you have to undergo the procedure control examination – the attending physician decides.

Another serious side effect untimely a trip to the x-ray room is considered a rupture of the skin with a high risk of inability to breathe normally. A deviation can manifest itself both during sleep and in everyday life, significantly worsening the quality of life. Suppuration of muscle tissue will also not add attractiveness, as will the inflammatory process of the skin along with swelling.

To eliminate the listed risks, it is better to go to the doctor immediately after receiving an injury, or discovering symptoms of inflammation of the internal part of the olfactory organ. He will refer the patient for x-rays, additional tests for the results of the preliminary examination, the collection of anamnesis, and, based on all received data, make the final decision on the diagnosis.