Nausheen Qureshi.
Role of partial anterior inferior turbinectomy in nasal obstruction.
J Rawal Med Coll Jan ;10(2):70-2.

Background: Total Inferior turbinectomy has been done for cases of Hypertrophic Rhinitis but not frequently for fear of post operative haemorrhage and crusting. With the advent of modern antibiotics and powerful decongestants and repeated antral washouts we sought to establish if its role remains for treatment in chronic rhinosinusitis and nasal obstruction Methods: Forty patients of chronic rhinosinusitis underwent bilateral anterior inferior partial turbinectomies in Rawalpindi General Hospital from July 2004 to September 2005. All patients had previously received adequate antibiotics for at least four weeks and had antral wash out or antrostomy done, but were found refractory to treatment. All patients were followed up for a period of six months postoperatively. Results: In the follow up cases nasal obstruction and post nasal drip were markedly reduced as 95% of patients were relieved of their nasal obstruction after turbinectomy. Some patients were also relieved of their headache and post nasal drip. Complications like haemorrhage and crusting, which are most feared and are associated with radical operations like total turbinectomy, laser and cryo surgery were found to be rare with this procedure. Conclusion: Partial anterior inferior turbinectomy significantly improves nasal obstruction in patients who have chronic rhino sinusitis due to enlarged inferior turbinates as it addresses the pathology adjacent to the internal nasal valve which is the area responsible for 60% of the nasal airway resistance. Partial turbinectomy is found to be safer, cost effective procedure which does not interfere with normal physiological function of nose while at the same time it provides the patient with early and long lasting relief from the symptoms of nasal obstruction and postnasal drip in chronic rhinosinusitis.

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