Outcomes of anterior-wedge resection of the middle turbinate in functional endoscopic sinus surgery

Abstract

Background Chronic rhinosinusitis is a common condition that affects the quality of life of patients. Patients may require sinus surgery in case of failure of medical treatment. One of the important decisions to be made during sinus surgery is middle-turbinate (MT) management. Aim The objective of this study was to evaluate the outcomes of the anterior-wedge excision of the MT in sinus surgery regarding accessibility to the sinuses both intraoperatively and postoperatively and the quality-of-life changes at least 6 months after surgery. Patients and methods This is a prospective, cohort-controlled study. Fifty patients were enrolled into two groups: group A consisted of 25 patients who had anterior-wedge resection of the MT and group B consisted of 25 patients in whom the MT was preserved during sinus surgery for management of chronic rhinosinusitis. Results Anterior-wedge resection of the MT was found to improve access to middle meatus during surgery and postoperative care. There was a significant enhancement of SNOT-22 total score and all its subscale scores. Conclusion Anterior-wedge MT resection is a promising procedure during sinus surgery. It can be a helpful auxiliary procedure to enhance surgical accessibility, facilitate postoperative follow-up and debridement, and reduce the risk of synechiae formation between the MT and lateral nasal wall. This may be associated with improvement of the disease-related quality of life after sinus surgery.