Curvature of nasal septum

The curvature of the nasal septum is quite common. It occurs in almost 90% of the population. For the most part it is observed in men. This is due to the fact that the curvature arises from even the most simple injuries.

Most often it appears in childhood. Due to the fact that the injuries are minor, no one pays any attention to them. It is not uncommon for a nasal septum to be damaged before birth, in the womb. Deformation can also arise from a hereditary anomaly of development. Often, the curvature is not even noticed by a man, and when making a diagnosis, he is sincerely surprised, since he never felt any difficulty in breathing. This is due to the fact that other intranasal structures have adapted to curvature.

There is a septum of two divisions: cartilaginous (anterior) and bone (posterior). It divides the nasal cavity into two parts.

The curvature of the nasal septum can take different forms. Most often it occurs in the horizontal plane. On the curved part there are bony and cartilaginous thickenings in the form of a thorn or crest.

Curvature of the nasal septum. Symptoms

1. The main symptom is the difficulty of nasal breathing, which is shallow, superficial; In the lungs, air exchange decreases. As a result, a person quickly becomes tired, becomes sluggish, his working capacity decreases. Stagnant phenomena develop. The mucous membrane lining the nasal cavity swells; There is already a lumen of nasal passages. Starts to accumulate mucus in the nose and there is a threat of infection with bacterial infections.

If the septum will block the air access to the upper nasal sections, problems with smell may occur. The inflammatory process can affect the auditory tube, and as a result, hearing will worsen. With unilateral curvature of the septum, a violation of breathing will be felt from the left or right side of the nose;

2. The emergence of chronic diseases of the paranasal sinuses. These are: ethmoids, sinusitis, fronites;

3. Occurrence of dryness in the nasal cavity;

4. The appearance of snoring, which is associated with difficulty breathing of the nose;

5. The appearance of allergic diseases. When contact with the septum mucosa membrane of the nasal cavity may occur irritation, capable of provoking an attack of bronchial asthma or an allergic rhinitis. Thus the patient feels an itch, and from a cavity of a nose mucus is allocated.

6. Changing the shape of the nose. With various injuries, the nose shifts to the left or to the right and, with inadequate treatment, the cartilage can not grow properly, resulting in a curvature of the nasal septum.

This defect can cause the development of reflex neuroses, which manifest themselves in the form of bouts of sneezing, runny nose, coughing, lacrimation, headache.

The examination of a patient with a curved nasal septum is performed by otorhinolaryngologists. The diagnosis is confirmed after anterior rhinoscopy of the nose (examination).

If there was a curvature of the nasal septum, treatment is possible only surgically. Therefore, it is better to carry out the operation only in exceptional cases, namely:

• When breathing is disturbed, when the passability of the nasal passages is completely or almost completely broken;
• If necessary, surgical intervention in the nasal cavity, when this prevents the curvature of the nasal septum;
• For aesthetic reasons, since it is often impossible to restore an even nose without correction.

The operation for leveling the curved septum can be performed in any specialized health care institution. The choice of technique is performed by the doctor after a special examination, taking into account the deformation features.