Conchae Growth (Concha Hypertrophy)
The concha, medically called concha, are normal anatomical formations, 3 in each of the two nasal cavities. Their task is to humidify, warm and clean the air entering the nose. It consists of bone and soft tissue. The soft tissue part is rich in dense blood vessels and glands.
The enlargement of the nasal concha, called concha hypertrophy, develops due to swelling in the soft tissue forming the turbinate or the structural size of the bone tissue. The most common cause of turbinate hypertrophy is allergies. However, other factors causing sinusitis and rhinitis cause turbinate hypertrophy.
The most common symptoms are nasal congestion, mouth breathing and snoring.
The treatment is primarily to eliminate the underlying cause and nasal sprays. Different surgical methods are applied in cases resistant to drug therapy. For the effectiveness of the surgery to be performed, first of all, it is necessary to correctly distinguish whether the turbinate hypertrophy is due to bone growth or soft tissue swelling. Surgery can be performed under local or general anesthesia. The procedure takes about 15-30 minutes and does not cause any discomfort to the patient, except for temporary nasal congestion due to edema at the end of the procedure.
Types of surgical procedures
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Resection: Soft tissue or the removal of bone tissue by cutting
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Lateralization: The process of widening the air passage by breaking the concha bone outwards
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Electrocauterization: With bipolar cautery The process of shrinking the soft tissue by giving heat
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Radiofrequency: The process of shrinking the soft tissue by creating a temperature-controlled thermal lesion with low-energy electromagnetic radiofrequency waves
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Coblation: The process of creating controlled tissue damage by creating an ionic plasma field with less heat
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Debrider: The process of reducing the turbinate soft tissue and the mucosal covering on the bone tissue by shaving it
The Curvature of Nasal Cartilage and Bone (Septum Deviation)
The structure consisting of bone and cartilage that divides the nasal cavity into 2 equal parts is called the septum. If there is a curvature in the septum cartilage; that side Nasal congestion occurs due to the decrease of air passing through the nostril. The degree of curvature, its side and its relationship with the sinus mouth affect the complaint of nasal congestion. This curvature can develop due to genetic, congenital or childhood traumas. It is also a risk factor for sinusitis and nosebleeds.
For the diagnosis of septum deviation, primarily nasal examination, examination of the nasal cavities with a camera, and radiological computed tomography are used.
The treatment of septum deviation is surgery. There is no drug treatment. It is the process of correcting curved cartilage and bone structures by making an incision through the nose with surgery. The process takes between 1-2 hours. Postoperative recovery takes about 3 weeks.
Sinusitis
Sinuses are air spaces in the facial bones. These air spaces are opened to the nasal cavity with special channels. The air entering the nostrils reaches the sinuses through these channels. There are four on each side in the form of cheek (maxillary), forehead (frontal), periocular (ethmoid) and posterior eye (sphenoid) sinuses. Their task is to reduce the weight of the skull, to prevent the blow to the face from reaching the brain, to moisten and warm the air entering the nose. According to the duration of the infection, it is divided into acute and chronic sinusitis. Infections that last longer than 3 months are called chronic sinusitis. There are 2 subtypes of chronic sinusitis, with and without polyps. Sinus polyps, also known as nasal polyps, are edematous pale-colored new formations in the nasal cavity and sinus in addition to chronic sinusitis complaints. Recurrent sinusitis is defined as having more than 4 acute sinusitis attacks in a year.
The diagnosis of sinusitis is made by the patient's complaints, duration and detailed endoscopic nasal examination. At least one of the complaints of nasal congestion or discharge (frontal or nasal) must be present. Along with these, localized pressure and pain on the face, difficulty in smelling and cough (in children) may accompany the complaints. In addition to the complaints, The presence of edema, obstruction, inflammation or polyp in the mouths of the sinuses supports the diagnosis.
The common cold is actually a form of sinusitis. Virus-induced sinusitis that lasts less than 10 days is called the common cold. Bacterial sinusitis, on the other hand, generally occurs for longer than 7-10 days or in cases where the complaints worsen during this period.
Fever, on the other hand, is the situation where the infection does not affect the sinuses and is only in the nasal cavity. Colds can be caused by viruses, allergies, drugs, hormones or non-infectious causes.
Sinusitis is a disease that needs to be treated and followed up in order to prevent it from becoming chronic and to prevent the infection, which we define as a complication, from spreading to the eye and brain.
Treatments used according to the type and severity of the disease:
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Antibiotics
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Nasal sprays (steroid and decongestant sprays)
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Antihistamine drugs
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Pain relievers
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Nasal wash solutions
Another alternative in the treatment of sinusitis is endoscopic sinus surgery. The surgery is performed with a camera called an endoscope without making an incision. The purpose of the surgery is to open the mouth of the clogged sinus channels and to clean the inflamed tissues inside.
Surgical conditions
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Complicated acute sinusitis
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Chronic sinusitis resistant to maximum drug therapy
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Chronic sinusitis with refractory polyps
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