The Efficacy of Turbinate Surgery for the Relief of Nasal Obstruction

Abstract

To study the role of turbinate surgery 60 consecutive patients complaining of nasal airway obstruction were evaluated. All patients had a deviated nasal septum and turbinate hypertrophy and had received medical therapy of at least 8 weeks duration. Plain x-rays or computerized tomography scans of the paranasal sinuses excluded sinusitis. Each patient was randomized into one of three groups. Group I underwent septoplasty for correction of the deviated nasal septum. Group II underwent bilateral anterior turbinectomy, and Group III underwent both septoplasty and bilateral anterior turbinectomy. All patients were evaluated preoperatively and on at least one postoperative visit for their subjective perception of improvement or worsening of nasal obstruction. Likewise, all patients underwent anterior rhinomanometry preoperatively and postoperatively. The data revealed no significant difference in reduction of the nasal airway resistance as measured by rhinomanometry for Groups I and II. The patients’ own perceptions of improvement, however, were augmented when turbinectomy was performed (Groups II and III). We conclude that anterior turbinectomy is a useful operation in alleviating the sense of nasal obstruction in patients with hypertrophied inferior turbinates.