Total Inferior Turbinectomy: Benefits and Complications

Abstract

Between 1975 and 1987, 115 patients underwent inferior turbinectomy and 87% were available for review. The nature and extent of their pre- and postoperative symptoms were determined, and rhinoscopy was undertaken to establish the completeness of turbinectomy and the presence of intranasal complications. Of these patients, 88% reported improvements in nasal obstruction and 50 to 78% of the patients who had experienced other troublesome nasal symptoms reported improvements in these. Primary hemorrhage occurred in two patients and during the early postoperative months three patients experienced crusting, three had spotty bleeding, and one had discomfort caused by increased airway patency. On examination nine patients had mild asymptomatic crusting, seven had incompletely resected turbinates, and 12 had intranasal adhesions. None had atrophic rhinitis.