English

Abstract

OBJECTIVE : To determine the success rate of inferior turbinectomy for nasal obstruction. To study complications of inferior turbinectomy. To study the histopathological changes in the inferior turbinate specimens. METHOD : This prospective, single blinded, randomized study of 219 consecutive patients carried out in two tertiary level centres from January 2010 to October 2011. The patients were assessed preoperatively and postoperatively both subjectively and objectively. The patients who were refractory to the directed conservative treatment for chronic nasal obstruction underwent inferior turbinectomy on both sides and septoplasty if required. The inferior turbinectomy specimen was sent for histopathological examination. NOSE Questionnaires were used for subjective assessment and rigid nasal endoscopy used for objective assessment. Follow up done at 1 week, 1 month and 6 months after surgery. Friedman test applied for assessment of the improvement. RESULTS : 92 % (n=203) of patients relieved of nasal obstruction for which they approached. The improvement is statistically significant both subjectively and objectively. The common complications in present study is postoperative nasal synechia which occurred in 5% (n=10). Bleeding occurred in 4%(n=8). Dryness and crusting occurred in 2%(n=4) and foul odour in 2% (n=4). The present study also showed that most common cause for turbinate enlargement is chronic nonspecific inflammatory hypertrophy followed by allergic turbinate hypertrophy. CONCLUSION : -The results show that inferior turbinectomy is the good method of achieving relief from the nasal obstruction with minimal morbidity. Histopathological examination showed that most common cause of turbinate enlargement is chronic non specific turbinate hypertrophy and it proves beyond doubt that unnecessary excessive antiallergic treatment should be avoided in patients with chronic nasal obstruction.