SURGICAL TREATMENT OF ATROPHIC RHINITIS

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to present a surgical method which is applicable for the treatment of atrophic rhinitis. The method consists of taking out the mucous membrane from the maxillary sinus and transplanting the mucous membrane freely to the inferior turbinate, the floor of the nasal cavity and the septum. The mucous membrane is separated carefully from the maxillary sinus by the Caldwell-Luc's method. The epithelial surface of the inferior turbinate and, if necessary, of the floor of the nasal cavity and of the septum are freshened by curettage. The mucous membranes in moderate size and shape are then put on the fresh wounds in the nasal cavity and fixed by suture and tam-ponade.After an interval of about 7 days the tampon is removed. The free mucous membrane graft readily adheres and the inferior turbinate becomes swollen and the nasal cavity becomes narrow. Edema and superficial crust which are found on the free graft after the operation in some cases disappear spontaneously in the period of 3 to 5 weeks. This operation brings about total absence or diminution of stinking smell, crusting, nasal discharge, nasal obstruction and headache in many cases. This surgical method is applicable alone or also in combination with some other technique such as submucosal bone graft or insertion of acrylic implant.