Effect of septoplasty on inferior turbinate hypertrophy

Abstract

Background Septal deviation is usually associated with compensatory hypertrophy of the contralateral inferior turbinate. The current treatment of anterior septal deviation is septoplasty, but there is controversy about surgery for the hypertrophied inferior turbinate. Aim This study aims to determine the effect of septoplasty surgery alone on the size of inferior turbinate. Patients and methods This prospective study was done on 40 patients who attended ENT Department of Al-Zahraa University Hospital. This study was done in the period from September 2019 to September 2020. Their age ranged from 18 to 40 years. They had septal deviation on one side and inferior turbinate hypertrophy (ITH) on the opposite side. All of them underwent septoplasty without turbinate surgery. These patients were evaluated preoperatively and 6 months postoperatively by radiological (computed tomography), endoscopic examination, and nasal obstruction symptom evaluation questionnaire. Results Septoplasty alone significantly decreased the thickness of the medial mucosa of hypertrophied inferior turbinate by 1.03±0.74 mm (P=0.000) at the anterior part and decrease by 0.82±1.14 mm at the middle part (P=0.000), with no statistically significant decrease at the posterior part. Moreover, it also decreased the thickness of the lateral mucosa of turbinate by 0.31±0.25 mm (P=0.000) at the anterior part, decrease by 0.42±0.39 mm at the middle part (P=0.000), and no significant decrease at the posterior part. Insignificant change of conchal bone thickness on both sides was reported. Conclusion We conclude that septoplasty alone saves time and cost and avoids complications and sequelae associated with turbinectomy. This in turn improves quality of life, so it can be prescribed for patients with DNS with ITH mainly at anterior and middle segment soft tissue parts, but it is not enough for surgery of patients with ITH of posterior part or conchal bone.