Indication for nasal septum surgery
Only if the “deformed” nasal septum causes discomfort and restrictions, surgical correction is useful. This means that if the patient suffers permanently from restricted nasal breathing, headaches and/or sleeping disorders, a nasal septum operation should be considered. This may be the case if the nasal septum is more severely curved, if there is permanent swelling of the nasal mucous membranes or if there is a bruise, abscess or hole in the septum.
Procedure of the surgery
In case of a nasal septum curvature requiring treatment, a so-called serum plasty is the treatment of choice. Before the operation, a consultation and information session is held with the doctor and the anaesthetist. It is also important to inform the attending physician about medications and previous illnesses.
It may be necessary to discontinue medication that reduces blood clotting. In some cases the operation is performed under local anesthesia. In other cases a general anesthesia is recommended.
Depending on the type of anesthesia, a period of prohibition of eating, drinking and smoking is set before the operation. The operation itself starts with an incision in the front part of the nasal septum. Subsequently, the nasal mucosa is detached from the septum.
Afterwards the bent parts are removed. Outside the nose, these are then straightened and repositioned. If a permanently enlarged nasal mucosa also causes impairment, it is reduced in size using electricity or a laser.
It is also possible that parts of the nasal mucosa or nasal concha will be relocated or removed. If there is a bruise of the septum, a so-called nasal septum hematoma, a drainage is placed and the septum is splinted. If there is a hole in the nasal septum, the hole is closed surgically by means of a mucosal flap plasty.
The operation can be performed on an outpatient or inpatient basis. The medication can continue to have an effect for up to 24 hours. Therefore, the patient is not allowed to drive a car or operate machines after the operation.
If the operation was performed as an outpatient, the patient should be picked up. In addition, important decisions should not be made on the same day. To avoid injuries, the patient should carefully dab nasal secretions for several days instead of blowing his or her nose. Sneezing should be performed with the mouth open in the first days after the surgery.
