Bilateral inferior turbinoplasty in chronic nasal obstruction

Bilateral inferior turbinoplasty was performed in cases of chronic nasal obstruction, in which conservative treatment had failed. Forty-five patients without significant septal deviation and with chronic nasal obstruction were objectively evaluated by acoustic rhinometry (AR) before and 3-6 months after turbinoplasty, in order to assess the changes of the dimensions of the nasal cavity obtained. Mucosal turbinate hypertrophy (defined objectively by AR) was present in 76% of the cases. Satisfactory subjective nasal patency was achieved in 93% of patients. Turbinoplasty resulted in an increase of 22% at the minimum cross-sectional area, 37% at the cross-sectional area 3.3 cm from the nostrils, and 47% at the cross-sectional area 4.0 cm from the nostrils. The increase was not related to the subjective result of the operation. Tendency to crusting and to vasomotor symptoms were related to unsatisfactory results. No crusting or bleeding were observed.