Effect of septoplasty on inferior turbinate hypertrophy.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To measure the effect of septoplasty on the volume of inferior turbinate in patients with a deviated nasal septum. DESIGN: In this retrospective analysis, patients who underwent septoplasty without turbinate surgery from May 1, 2003, through April 30, 2006, were studied. The thicknesses and cross-sectional areas of mucosa and conchal bones were measured with computed tomography before the operations and at least 1 year after the operations. SETTING: University hospital. PATIENTS: A total of 20 patients who presented with a chief concern of nasal obstruction. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The thicknesses of the medial mucosa, bone, and lateral mucosa and the cross-sectional area of turbinate before and after septoplasty were compared using the Wilcoxon signed rank test. P < .05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: The medial mucosa and cross-sectional area of the inferior turbinate on the concave side of the septum were significantly decreased by septoplasty (both, P = .01), and the medial mucosa and cross-sectional area of the inferior turbinate on the convex side of the septum were significantly increased by septoplasty (P = .01). The thicknesses and cross-sectional areas of the conchal bone on the concave and convex sides of the septum were not affected by septoplasty. CONCLUSION: After septoplasty, inferior turbinate hypertrophy, especially in the medial mucosa, may reverse.