Perforation of the nasal septum is a through hole in the nasal septum (its bony or cartilaginous part), which occurs against the background of its mechanical damage or ongoing painful processes. Such a pathology may not manifest itself for a long period, but all this time the likelihood of breathing problems or infection is increasing.
Symptoms of the disease
Small perforation of the nasal septum proceeds, as a rule, imperceptibly. In most cases, the symptoms of the disease are as follows:
- nasal congestion;
- difficulty breathing
- crusting in the area of perforation;
- purulent discharge, which is accompanied by an unpleasant odor (occur with an increase in perforation of the septum);
- a feeling of dryness, soreness, discomfort;
- wheezing when exhaling and inhaling through the nose;
- nosebleeds ;
- external deformation of the nose (for example, with a large opening, the back of the nose looks failed).
If the above symptoms appear, the patient is recommended to immediately contact a medical institution for a detailed diagnosis and immediate use of complex therapy.
Diagnostics
Perforation of the nasal septum, the treatment of which is carried out by the method of surgical intervention, is diagnosed by examining the nasal cavity (rhinoscopy) with an otolaryngologist. ENT prescribes a comprehensive examination to identify the nature of the existing structural disorder, which is most often the result of a purulent process caused by another disease. Along the way, additional examinations and tests can be prescribed (for blood, syphilis, etc.).
Perforation of the nasal septum, located close to the nostrils, often worries the patient due to the dryness of this area of the nose.
Depth localization can only be determined by medical examination. It is pointless to hope that the perforation of the nasal septum, reviews of which are frightening in nature, will drag on and disappear without a trace. People suffering from this pathology claim that the hole only increases, forming an increasingly large void in the nasal cavity . Therefore, do not waste precious time, but you should seek the help of a qualified surgeon in time.
Causes of perforation in the nasal cavity
Causes of perforation of the nasal septum:
- infections causing the destruction of cartilage (such as: syphilis, staphylococcus, tuberculosis);
- purulent foci;
- diabetes;
- injuries to the nose, frequent mechanical damage left without treatment for a hematoma;
- the appearance of malignant neoplasms in the nasal septum;
- frequent use of vasoconstrictor drugs (sprays or drops);
- systemic diseases that adversely affect connective tissue (renal failure, lupus erythematosus, sarcoidosis, polychondria, rheumatoid arthritis, asculitis);
- taking narcotic drugs administered through the nasal passages (chronic use of cocaine, which causes regular irritation and causes the penetration of pathogens of infection, can completely destroy the internal structure of the nose) ;
- dry atrophic rhinitis;
- complications after surgery in the nasal area or surgery by an inexperienced specialist;
- continuous exposure of toxic substances to the nasal cavity due to non-compliance with safety procedures during the production process.
Perforation of the nasal septum: preventive measures
Prevention of nasal septum perforation is:
- annual medical preventive examinations;
- early diagnosis;
- timely treatment of infectious and chronic respiratory diseases;
- the use of drugs in full accordance with the instructions;
- a reasonable approach to choosing a qualified surgeon when performing nose surgery.
Perforation of the nasal septum: treatment
At home, perforation of the nasal septum cannot be treated. The only correct way to get rid of it will be surgery. To date, in surgery, several techniques are practiced to eliminate perforation of the nasal cavity, used depending on the size of the through hole. The Tardi method is used with a hole diameter of up to 5 cm and is carried out by closing with a flap of the mucous membrane. Small perforations are removed by stitching their edges. Larger defects are corrected using artificial or proprietary implants.
The operation of perforation of the nasal septum is carried out both under general and local anesthesia, depending on the patient’s state of health and his wishes regarding the use of the anesthesia method. In itself, such surgical intervention is not dangerous; subject to all doctor's recommendations regarding nasal hygiene, the risk of complications is minimized. The average cost of an operation, depending on the complexity of the case and the degree of qualification of the surgeon, ranges from 150 to 500 thousand rubles.
Treatment of perforation of the nasal septum consists not only in restoring its integrity, but also eliminating the cause of this problem, as well as observing the recommendations of the attending physician for the prevention of possible complications or the re-occurrence of septal defects.
Postoperative period
With the surgical removal of perforation, the patient remains in the hospital (depending on his well-being) for 3-5 days. In the first day after the operation, bloody mucus is secreted. Tampons from the nose are removed after a day; gaskets supporting the baffle and membrane remain for a certain time.
To maintain the pad in a wet state and to facilitate the suction of the resulting discharge over the next 10 days, the patient is required to inject isotonic saline into the nasal cavity. In order to avoid crusting with cotton buds, it is necessary to lubricate the mucosa with antibacterial ointments. The first month after surgery, you can not blow your nose.
Useful Tips
The rehabilitation period consists in the following rules:
- Compliance with the doctor’s recommendations for the care of the operated area of the face;
- sparing mode for 1 month after surgery, excluding physical exertion, mechanical damage and nasal trauma, as well as significant temperature differences;
- preventing the use of vasoconstrictor drugs;
- dieting, refusal of alcoholic beverages, caution in taking cold and hot food for 2 weeks from the time of surgery.
The consequences of not treating perforation
If the perforation of the nasal septum is not treated, irreversible olfactory disturbances and reflex disorders can occur: laryngeal cramps, malfunctioning of the cardiovascular system, coughing and sneezing, headaches, eye diseases, epilepsy.
Perforation of the nasal septum, the consequences of which, if not treated, only leads to poor health, is treated exclusively by the surgical method. Self-treatment (aerosols, ointments, moisturizers) can only temporarily alleviate the situation.