Curvature of the nasal septum is a common condition. In fact, a perfectly flat partition is a big exception. But its deformation is far from always regarded as a pathology and in most situations does not need any treatment. In the event that the curvature of the nasal septum is quite pronounced, it can lead to a number of complications. In this case, we can talk about the presence of the disease. In such a situation, treatment by an otorhinolaryngologist is indicated. According to statistics, such a curvature is almost not found in childhood. The peak defect detection occurs mainly in adolescents from thirteen to eighteen years old. This time is also associated with the rapid growth of the body.
Symptoms of the disease
Symptoms of a manifestation of a curvature of the nasal septum are many. Complaints made at the doctor’s office are usually recorded as follows:
- The appearance of difficulty in nasal breathing. This symptom can be expressed in varying degrees, ranging from minor disturbances to the absolute inability to breathe through the nose. That is, at the same time, the patient breathes through his mouth. True, the absence of this complaint is not a sign that the curvature as such is also absent. When a deformation occurs at a young age, the body compensates for it over time. In this case, the patient does not have any complaints about shortness of breath. In that case, if the nasal cavity is large, then there are no difficulties either. Symptoms of nasal septum curvature are important to recognize in a timely manner.
- The development of chronic rhinitis, which is manifested by a constant runny nose. This condition is manifested by nasal congestion, while there are constant mucous discharge. People against this background do not go to the doctor for a long time, believing that this is just a common cold and the whole thing is to reduce immunity.
- The appearance of an allergic reaction. Changes in the nasal cavity due to the curvature of the septum are accompanied by a violation of the local protective mechanism and immunity. This can be manifested not only in a decrease in overall resistance to infections, but also in the occurrence of allergic reactions. Allergic rhinitis is a common problem among people with a curved nasal septum. Chronic rhinitis is a condition against which the development of bronchial asthma often occurs. At the same time, the patient complains that nasal congestion with secretions occurs mainly during contact with various allergens, for example, pollen from some plants.
- The presence of headaches. A curved septum may come in contact with the nasal mucosa, putting pressure on it. The presence of constant irritation of nerve receptors leads to the development of reflex headache.
- The appearance of dryness in the nose along with discomfort and discomfort during breathing. This condition is a symptom of a developing long-term inflammatory process in the nose.
- The occurrence of nosebleeds. A similar condition is also the result of mucosal irritation. From the side where the bulge is located on the septum, the mucous membrane is very thinned. Even with a minor effect, it is very easily damaged.
- Presence of snoring at night due to impaired nasal breathing.
- The appearance of increased fatigue along with a decrease in working capacity and reduced resistance to physical exertion. This symptomatology is associated with respiratory failure through the nose, and in addition, with insufficient intake of oxygen in the blood.
- The presence of frequent infections with symptoms in the form of a runny nose, cough, sneezing, fever and so on.
- Symptoms of chronic inflammation of the larynx, which manifests itself in the form of perspiration, dryness and sore throat.
- Symptoms of the inflammatory process in the middle ear region in the form of pain and general hearing loss.
- Noticeable violation of the shape of the nose. This symptom is typical for a traumatic septum curvature.
- In more severe cases, patients may experience periodic convulsive seizures along with impaired vision, pain in the heart and increased pressure, shortness of breath and other symptoms. All these signs can be directly related to the deformation of the nasal septum.
- Curvature of the nasal septum in a child leads to a deterioration in memory and thinking along with distracted attention. Schoolchildren begin to suffer over time in school.
Pathology treatment
Curvature of the nasal septum is treated surgically. The main type of operation performed in most cases is the so-called septoplasty.
What are the indications for the operation?
The following factors serve as indications for the operation when the nasal septum is curved:
- Presence of difficulty in nasal breathing from only one or both sides at once. Surgery is absolutely advisable provided that difficulty breathing is caused precisely by deformation of the septum.
- The development of chronic rhinitis, that is, inflammation of the nasal mucosa.
- The appearance of otitis media, against which inflammation of the middle ear occurs. The fact is that the initial cause of this ailment is a violation of the shape of the nasal septum.
- The development of inflammation of the sinuses. Thus, surgery is required for sinusitis, sinusitis, ethmoiditis, and so on. But surgical intervention is required provided that these complications were caused precisely by the curvature of the septum.
- The presence of frequent recurring headaches.
- The presence of external cosmetic defects. Sometimes, in rare cases, immediately after fractures, they can simultaneously align the nose, performing septoplasty.
What are the contraindications for surgery?
Contraindications to septoplasty in the presence of curvature of the nasal septum are the following conditions of the patient and pathology:
- The elderly age of the patient. With age, respiratory failure in the presence of a curved septum of the nose is partially compensated. In this regard, the symptoms of the disease become less pronounced. In elderly people, atrophy of the nasal mucosa can occur, which is why the operation is difficult and the risk of complications is very high.
- The presence of bleeding disorders in a patient. For example, septoplasty is strictly contraindicated for people suffering from hemophilia.
- The presence of severe diseases of the heart or blood vessels.
- The presence of diabetes in a patient.
- The presence of mental illness in a patient.
- The appearance of malignant tumors.
- The presence of severe infections.
- The development of a serious condition of the patient.
- In relation to children and persons over forty-eight years of age, this operation can be carried out, but the indications for it at this age are very narrowed.
What do you need to prepare for surgery for curving the nasal septum?
Preparation for septoplasty
The primary diagnosis of septum curvature, as a rule, is established by an otorhinolaryngologist in a clinic. In the event that the doctor believes that surgical intervention is required, they are prescribed the patient’s referral to the hospital. In the emergency room, the patient is examined, and the date of hospitalization is assigned to him. Prior to this, you need to pass a standard set of necessary analyzes. This can be done in the clinic according to the place of residence.
Two weeks before the upcoming operation, the patient is obliged to abandon all bad habits. It is very important to avoid hypothermia, and in addition, various infections. In addition, it is necessary to cure diseased teeth, as well as eliminate all kinds of foci of inflammation in the body. Against the background of the operation, the loss of an excessive amount of blood is likely due to the fact that the nasal mucosa is abundantly equipped with blood vessels. It is best for women to plan such an operation two weeks after menstruation.
Immediately before the operation in the hospital, the patient may be prescribed an additional examination. In the event that the intervention is planned to be performed under general anesthesia, then on the day it is performed, the patient should not eat or drink in the morning. Exactly an hour later, the patient is given premedication, that is, medications are administered to help prepare the body for anesthesia.
Operation
So, the main method of treatment of curvature of the nasal septum is surgery.
Septoplasty, that is, plastic surgery of the nasal septum, is performed under general or local anesthesia. For children, only general anesthesia is used. The patient is placed on the operating table in a supine position on his back. This surgical intervention does not involve any incisions on the face. The fact is that access occurs through the nostril. The surgeon dissects the mucous membrane, which is separated from the nasal septum, then plastic is performed and sutures are applied.
Immediately after surgery, tampons are placed in the nose, which are pre-soaked in a solution of a hemostatic drug. The patient must wear them for one day. Today, the use of silicone splints is widely practiced, helping the new partition to reliably maintain the required shape. In some situations, curvature of the septum is combined with asymmetry of the ethmoid bone, and in addition, with a change in the size and shape of the nasal concha. Such violations must also be eliminated without fail during such an operation.
When the nasal septum is curved, laser surgery is very common.
Endoscopic laser septoplasty
The advantages of laser septoplasty are the following achievements:
- Causing minimal tissue trauma.
- Total blood loss during surgery is minimized.
- The laser is antiseptic.
- Rehabilitation procedures and activities during the postoperative period are minimized.
The main disadvantage of the laser is that it is able to eliminate far from all the deformation of the nasal septum, in particular this technique does not cope with its bone part.
How successful is this treatment for nasal septum curvature?
What awaits the patient in the postoperative period?
For two days after the surgery, the patient is forced to wear turunds (i.e. tampons in the nose to prevent bleeding). This can cause some discomfort, because during this time, nasal breathing is impossible. On the fourth day, breathing is fully restored. Immediately after the operation, the otorhinolaryngologist regularly examines the patient. In this case, dry crusts are removed from the nose, washing with physiological solutions or sea salt is carried out, and a nasal shower is performed.
In the event that during the postoperative period the patient is worried about severe pain, he is prescribed analgesics, that is, various painkillers. As part of the prevention of infectious complications, antibiotic therapy is prescribed. After the patient recovers and is discharged from the hospital, he is monitored for another month by an otorhinolaryngologist in the clinic.
Effects of treatment
As for the most common complications after treatment for curvature of the nasal septum, we can talk about the appearance of the following consequences:
- The appearance of large hematomas. In this case, all hemorrhages are concentrated, as a rule, under the mucous membrane.
- The appearance of nosebleeds.
- The appearance of perforation of the nasal septum, within which various holes and defects form in it. What other possible consequences of a curvature of the nasal septum?
- The appearance of an abscess under the nasal mucosa, that is, an abscess.
- The development of purulent sinusitis.
- The development of deformity of the nose. Mostly, the back of his back can occur due to the fact that the surgeon resection of the septum was performed too high.
Treatment of curvature of the nasal septum without surgery
These include the following methods:
- Reception of teas and infusions from herbs.
- Massage.
- The use of ultrasound devices, etc.
- Breathing exercises.
Relieve swelling due to the curvature of the nasal septum using medical massage. To do this, you need a cream based on propolis, which is applied to the cheek area close to the nose. It must be massaged into the skin and performed in the area of the sinuses constant circular movements. Effectively carry out this procedure in the evening.
Eucalyptus, fir and vetiver essential oils are the best helpers in the fight against sinus swelling. For procedures with them, you should literally add a drop of one of the oils to a cup of water and moisten a round cotton pad in it, after which the wet discs are pressed to the area of the nasal sinuses and left for 10 minutes. The procedure should be done every day, morning and evening. Even regular black tea can effectively relieve pain and tightness in the sinuses. To do this, strong black tea is brewed (at least 3 teaspoons per 0.5 liters of boiling water), and the patient then breathes his nose over a bowl of hot liquid. In order for the tea not to cool, you should cover yourself with a large towel.
But it is important to understand that it is quite difficult to cure the curvature of the nasal septum without surgery.
Patient Reviews
About the treatment of the problem of curvature of the nasal septum using septoplasty, people write that normal and human breathing is certainly worth it. But at the same time, patients have to go through a whole month of discomfort, from preparation for surgery to the postoperative period.
Many people in their reviews of the operation during the curvature of the nasal septum admit that they were very scared right before it. And during the surgery itself I had to experience extremely unpleasant sensations. People report that they underwent septoplasty under local anesthesia. In addition to pain during surgical procedures, it is reported that the postoperative period is also quite difficult to tolerate, since recovery takes quite a long time. For example, people say that immediately after surgery, the nose does not breathe at all for another three weeks.
But after the experienced fear and apprehension, the majority of patients are satisfied with the treatment results and report that finally their nose can breathe freely and freely. Others write that yes, of course, it became easier to breathe, but after the operation, some people began to be bothered by herpes and frequent colds.
There is another side to this treatment for nasal septum curvature in the nose, around which a heated discussion unfolds on the Internet. We are talking about the cost of such therapy, which, as it turns out, not every person can afford. People write that septoplasty to correct the curvature cost them fifty thousand rubles.
I must say that comments on the treatment of curvature of the nasal septum are more controversial. In general, people believe that the results of septoplasty are worth a little patience. After all, after an experienced operation, whatever one may say, there are many advantages, such as, for example, ease of breathing and lack of nasal congestion. People write in their reviews when the nasal septum is curved that due to the treatment they began to get less sick, stopped suffering from bronchitis, and in addition, the overall quality of their life improved markedly. In addition, some patients manage to get rid of snoring due to such treatment, and you can wake up with a clear head in the morning, which people who have impaired nasal breathing cannot boast of, which makes them often accompanied by headaches.
Thus, based on the comments, it can be said that, despite the painfulness of the procedure, treatment of nasal curvature with septoplasty helps people cope with many health problems.