PARTIAL INFERIOR TURBINECTOMY;

A BETTER MANAGEMENT OPTION FOR HYPERTROPHIED INFERIOR TURBINATES

Abstract

Objective: To assess the effectiveness of partial inferior turbinectomy in relieving the symptoms of nasal obstruction in cases
of inferior turbinate hypertrophy and to compare the results in terms of relief from nasal obstruction in response to total inferior turbinectomy.
Design: Comparative Study. Setting: Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and neck surgery, CMH Rawalpindi. Period: From January
2004 to November 2004. Patients and Methods: A total of 60 patients with inferior turbinate hypertrophy were selected by convenient
sampling. 30 patients were treated by partial inferior turbinectomy and 30 by total inferior turbinectomy and result in terms of relief of nasal
obstruction based on VAS (Visual Analogue Score) was observed with follow up carried out at interval of one week and then two months.
Results: All cases of both the groups showed complete relief of nasal obstruction after 02 months, showing 100% results. Out of 30 cases
managed by total inferior turbinectomy 4 cases (13%) developed atrophic rhinitis. Conclusion: Partial inferior turbinectomy is as good as total
inferior turbinectomy in relieving nasal obstruction with an edge of avoiding complications like atrophic rhinitis