Outcome Assessment of 603 Cases of Concomitant Inferior Turbinectomy and Le Fort I Osteotomy

This retrospective study assessed the outcome of 603 patients undergoing partial inferior turbinectomies (PIT) in association with Lefort I osteotomy. The study included 1234 patients from a single private practice; these patients had dentofacial deformities and underwent Lefort I osteotomy procedures. For the full patient group, 888 patients (72%) were women; in the turbinectomy group, 403 (67%) were women. The anteroposterior, transverse, and vertical dimensions of the mandible, maxilla, and occlusal plane of each subject were assessed, in addition to cephalometric analysis and determination of the presence or absence of temporomandibular joint disorders. PIT, when indicated, was performed after downfracture of the maxilla, providing access to the turbinates where approximately two thirds of the total turbinate volume was removed and septoplasty was completed if indicated. Hypertrophied turbinates causing significant nasal airway obstruction were present in 603 (49%) of the 1234 patients undergoing Le Fort I osteotomy. The results of this study showed that PIT performed simultaneously with Le Fort I osteotomy is a safe method of managing nasal airway obstruction related to hypertrophied turbinates with minimal complications.