Scoliosis of the nasal septum is a physical disorder that affects the function of the nose. According to statistics, about 80% of our population suffers from this problem. Severe cases of scoliosis of the nasal septum can cause many unpredictable complications.
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What is scoliosis of the nasal septum?
The nasal septum is located in the center of the nostril, separating the nasal cavity into two equal parts (left and right nose). Scoliosis is a condition in which the septum is completely bent to one side, making the other nasal cavity smaller, thereby causing respiratory disorders during breathing.
This pathology includes many forms such as:
- C- shaped scoliosis are simple deformities when the nasal septum is bent only to one side (left or right).
- S- shaped scoliosis is a relatively complex deformity, in which the nasal septum can be both crooked to the left and right.
- Nasal septum spines / crests are abnormalities that protrude along the length of the septum, usually occurring at the junction of the septum bone and cartilage. The spines / crest of the nasal septum can reach the nasal mucosa, causing bleeding and severe pain.
- Thick septum legs have a feature of thick baffles at the lower part.
Causes of scoliosis of the nasal septum
Experts say that scoliosis of the nasal septum can be caused by many different causes such as:
- Congenital: Many people suffer from this condition during their development as a fetus in the womb. These situations can be easily detected when the baby is just born.
- Injuries: Injuries in the nasal area can cause the nasal septum to curl to one side. Infants often have scoliosis of the nasal septum due to trauma during labor. Children and adults can get this situation through violence or from work and life accidents. When the powerful mechanical forces are impacted directly on the face and nose, our nasal septum is easy to deviate from its natural position. In addition, people who often play vigorous, highly interactive sports or drivers who drive without seat belts are also more likely to lose their nasal septum due to injury.
- Aging: This process can change the structure of the nose in general and the nasal septum in particular. After a long period of time, the septum of the nose may be completely bent to one side.
- Chronic infections of the nose (sinusitis, allergic rhinitis): The natural structure of the nasal septum can be changed when the patient frequently swipes the nose.
Symptoms of a scoliosis of the nasal septum
Most defects in the nasal septum show no specific signs. This causes many patients not to even discover that they have a deviated septum of the nose. However, some of the typical symptoms below will partly help you to recognize the pathology, thereby finding the right treatment.
- Nasal congestion (nasal congestion): Many people with this problem do not have any symptoms. Meanwhile, there are people with stuffy nose in one or both sides of the nasal cavity and frequent difficulty breathing (even without rhinitis). Nasal congestion can get worse if it is accompanied by inflammatory respiratory illnesses (colds, common colds) or an allergy to airways.
- Nosebleeds: Although the surface of the nasal septum is very fragile and sensitive, it is a place where many small blood vessels are concentrated, in relatively shallow positions. Therefore, when the nasal septum is crooked, this area becomes drier, thereby increasing the risk of nosebleeds.
- Facial pain: When the scoliosis of the nasal septum changes badly, one side of the nose may become blocked, causing severe pain on the side of the face on the corresponding side.
- Sleep Wheezing: The narrowing of one side of the nasal canal will block the flow of air through the nose, creating noisy sounds while sleeping. This phenomenon is very common in children.
- Sleep in a recumbent position: Because one side of the nose is narrow, to make breathing easier, many people tend to lie on their side.
- Abnormal nasal cycle: When the nasal septum is deviated, the two sides of your nose will alternate congestion: one nose is blocked because the nose is congested while the other nose is clear and vice versa. This symptom is very difficult to recognize. If you feel a clear abnormality in the nasal cycle then the reader should see a doctor for diagnosis and treatment immediately.
- Migraine and migraine pain: Migraines appear on the side with the crooked wall of the nose. Sometimes the sick person has pain on both sides of the head. These pains are not severe, intense, but persistent and dull, making the patient extremely uncomfortable. Headaches, eye socket pain will increase markedly when it is too hot or too cold, especially in women’s menstrual cycle.
Complications of scoliosis of the nasal septum
A scoliosis of the nasal septum is a physical disorder that greatly affects the nasal area. When the nasal septum is shifted to one side and grows abnormally, the patient is very susceptible to respiratory diseases such as rhinitis and sinusitis .
If the symptoms of stuffy nose persist and persist, the reader may develop cardiovascular diseases (due to frequent obstruction of the airways, significantly limited ability to breathe and absorb oxygen), memory and labor productivity. In addition, chronic nasal septal scoliosis can negatively affect the olfactory bulb, irritate the nasal passages, make asthma, allergic rhinitis (if any) worse.
If you have a severe scoliosis of the nasal septum, you face complications such as:
- Dry mouth (prolonged oral breathing due to nasal congestion)
- An uncomfortable stuffy nose, a feeling of heaviness due to a blocked nasal cavity
- Sleep disturbances (sleep apnea, snoring, wheezing)
- Nosebleeds
- Recurrent nasal infection
Therefore, readers need to actively visit a doctor when they encounter the following phenomena:
- Frequent nosebleeds
- Blockage on one or both sides of the nose persists, does not get better with medication
- Recurrent sinus infection
- Nasal congestion affects the quality of life greatly
Measures to diagnose scoliosis of the nasal septum
At the beginning of the examination, the specialist will ask you carefully about the symptoms you are experiencing. The doctor then uses a speculum and a suitable light source to open the nostrils, and examine the entire internal structure.
Your doctor can also see more deeply using a tube-shaped endoscope with a light at the end of the tube. In addition, the doctor also monitors the nasal tissues before and after the nose tissue after the patient uses the decongestant spray. Finally, the doctor will conclude whether or not you have a scoliosis of the nasal septum and give appropriate indication.
Sometimes, in order to examine more closely the degree of septum deviation, the structural changes deep in the nose and the current state of the sinus system, the doctor will conduct a CT-scanner. This is usually done before a doctor decides to have an intervention.
Treatment method of scoliosis of the nasal septum
In many cases, patients with scoliosis do not need treatment. However, people with serious illness will be instructed to take medication or to order surgery.
Use Western medicine
Scoliosis of the nasal septum is a transformation of the physical structure. Therefore, medical treatments are often difficult to bring effective and thorough results. The following Western drugs are only used to relieve the symptoms of congestion and are not able to modulate the structure of the septum of the nose.
- Anti-decongestants help limit congestion of the nasal cavity caused by edema of the nasal mucosa. This group of drugs includes oral tablets and sprays with similar therapeutic effects. However, if you use an anti-decongestant spray for a long time, the patient is more likely to depend on the drug and develop a rebound reaction (ie, nasal congestion recurs and gets worse initially). Meanwhile, oral anti-decongestants can increase heart rate and blood pressure. Therefore, these two drugs are not intended for use in children.
- Anti d ị application for those who just crooked nasal septum moderate allergic rhinitis. This medicine has good control of runny nose, itchy nose, and stuffy nose. However, a side effect of antiallergic drugs is drowsiness, which greatly affects the ability to concentrate.
- Nasal corticosteroids have anti-inflammatory effects, clearing the nasal cavity. This medicine usually takes 1-3 weeks to get maximum effect. To limit the side effects, you need to use nasal corticosteroids under the guidance of a specialist.
Surgical intervention
The doctor will prescribe intervention surgery in the following cases:
- Headaches, nasal congestion, and sinusitis greatly affect quality of life and worsen allergic rhinitis
- Symptoms do not get better after a long time of taking the drug
- Sinusitis recurs many times
Nasal septum orthopedic surgery is a technique to adjust the nasal septum to the central position of the nasal cavity to increase air circulation and minimize the risk of sinusitis and rhinitis.
With this type of surgery, the patient can be under local anesthesia or anesthesia. The duration of the surgery depends on the surgical method and other associated operations. Sometimes, orthopedic surgery of the nasal septum is also combined with sinus surgery or orthopedic surgery.
The surgeon will make a small incision in the septum, removing the damaged bone or cartilage. The soft materials are then inserted into the nose by the doctor in the correct central position until the wound is temporarily healed. Orthopedic surgery of the nasal septum is usually performed on patients aged 15 years and over, when the nasal structure has developed steadily. This type of surgery is quite safe and common, with few complications. However, orthopedic surgery of the nasal septum can also cause some risks such as bleeding, infection, loss of smell and perforation of the septum.
Scoliosis of the nasal septum is not dangerous if treated properly. Most patients suffer from this disease in a mild form. However, when you notice any abnormal signs, you need to take the initiative to see your doctor and treat your disease promptly.
