COMPARISON OF NASAL PATENCY FOLLOWING SUBMUCOSAL RESECTION OF INFERIOR TURBINATE AND TOTAL INFERIOR TURBINECTOMY

Abstract

Objective: To compare the nasal obstruction following submucosal resection of inferior turbinate versus total inferior turbinectomy in patients with enlarged inferior turbinate.
Study Design: Randomized control trial
Place and Duration of Study: CMH Rawalpindi from June 2007 to November 2007.
Methods and Materials: Sixty patients of both gender clinically diagnosed to have inferior turbinate hypertrophy with history of nasal obstruction, not responding to medical treatment, having age >12 years with no history of previous nasal surgery were selected by convenience sampling. Thirty patients were treated by total inferior turbinectomy and thirty cases were treated by submucosal resection of inferior turbinate and results in terms of relief of nasal obstruction based on VAS (Visual Analogue Score) were observed with follow-up carried out at three weeks.
Results: Out of 30 cases managed by total inferior turbinectomy 83% cases showed marked improvement, and 17% had mild improvement in nasal obstruction 3 weeks after surgery. Among patients managed by submucosal resection 80% had marked, 17% had mild and 3% had no improvement of nasal obstruction.
Conclusion: Submucosal resection of inferior turbinates and total inferior turbinectomy are almost equally effective for relief of nasal obstruction in patients with hypertrophic turbinate.