Turbinate reduction during septoplasty; to do it or not? Clinical and radiological study

The objective was to determine whether during Septoplasty, turbinate reduction procedure should be done in every case of compensatory turbinate hypertrophy [CTH], or not. It is a prospective randomised study. 86 patients with septal deviation and compensatory turbinate hypertrophy were divided randomly into 2 equal groups; group A for whom septoplasty was done alone and group B for whom coblation-assisted turbinate reduction for CTH was done in addition. Both groups were compared as regard patient symptoms and CT measurements of the turbinate 9 months after surgery. 34.9% of group A complained of nasal obstruction in the side of CTH, compared to only 6.9% in group B. While turbinate reduction as measured by CT was significant in group A [p<0.05]; it was highly significant in group B [p<0.0001]. It was also found that there was a highly significant statistical difference between the postoperative results in the both groups in favour of group B [p<0.0001]. During septoplasty, turbinate reduction should be done in every case of CTH, as it improves patient symptoms and does not add to the complications

Assessment of laryngeal affection in patients with rheumatoid arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis [RA] is a chronic inflammatory disease affecting the synovial membrane, which causes joint damage and bone destruction. The crico arytenoid joint is a true diarthroidial synovial joint that can be affected by RA. In this study, disease activity, clinical assessment of the larynx, fiberoptic nasolaryngoscopy and Multi-Slides Computed Tomography [MSCT] were done to 20 RA patients in order to define the laryngeal involvement in rheumatoid arthritis patients. 14 of the 20 patients [70%] had laryngeal symptoms related to CA arthritis. Laryngeal endoscopy showed abnormalities in 9 of 20 patients [45%]. 5 of the 20 patients [25%], had abnormal radiologic findings related to CA arthritis. Laryngeal symptoms attributable to laryngeal involvement could be predictive of abnormal endoscopic and radiologic findings. Laryngeal involvement in RA could be attributed to the current disease activity and are more frequent with longer disease duration