Surgery of the inferior nasal turbinates: a comparative study of the operative outcomes of three techniques

ABSTRACT

In the present study, three of the widely practiced surgical procedures for the reduction of the size of the inferior turbinates, i.e. Partial inferior turbinectomy [PIT], submucous diathermy [SMD] and submucous turbinectomy or turbinoplasty [ST or TP] were assessed for subjective efficacy and morbidity. In all cases, turbinectomy was performed as an isolated procedure. The study was conducted on three groups of 90 adult patients [assigned into three groups of 30 patients each] with symptoms and signs of nasal obstruction due to enlargement of inferior turbinates. All patients were followed up for two weeks after surgery and after two months with subjective assessments of nasal breathing. The data obtained showed that the three procedures are relatively safe, effective, well-tolerated and do not require an expensive instrumentation. Nevertheless, when turbinectomy deemed necessary, the most conservative techniques are preferred