A comparative study on turbinectomy and turbinoplasty.

INTRODUCTION The commonest presenting symptom of any pathology associated with nasal cavity is nasal obstruction. Inferior turbinate hypertrophy is one of the main causes for nasal obstruction. It is a separate bone covered by lamina propria including erectile tissue and ciliated pseudo stratified columnar epithelium. Inferior turbinate hypertrophy can be diagnosed by anterior rhinoscopic examination. Whole turbinate hypertrophy could be confirmed by diagnostic nasal endoscopy. AIM OF THE STUDY This prospective study aims to compare the surgical results of conventional inferior turbinectomy with that of micro-debrider assisted inferior turbinoplasty. To find out the symptomatic improvement by pre-operative and post-operative clinical examination. To find out the healing process by post-operative diagnostic nasal endoscopic examination. SELECTION CRITERIA Age more than 20 years and less than 45 years. Sex: Both male and female patients were considered for the study. Patients clinically presenting with Inferior Turbinate Hypertrophy and nasal obstruction with or without allergic rhinitis were taken up. Patients with ostio- meatal complex involvement were excluded from this study Patients with previous history of nasal surgeries were excluded from this study. MATERIALS AND METHODS In patients, refractory to medical management, surgery is preferred. This is achieved by either reducing the size of or removing the inferior turbinate. Among the 60 patients taken into study, 30 underwent inferior turbinectomy and 30 underwent inferior turbinoplasty. Post-operative evaluation assessing symptomatic relief was done. Postoperative morbidity like bleeding, crusting, synechiae formation was considered as failure events. These variables were evaluated pre and post operatively by clinical and diagnostic nasal endoscopic examination. RESULTS AND INTERPRETATION 30 out of 60 underwent inferior turbinectomy in which 25 patients (95%) recovered completely without any symptoms at the end of 6 months of follow up. 5 patients had mild nasal obstruction and dryness of nose. Inferior turbinoplasty was done in 30 patients of whom 28 (98%) completely recovered. Only 2 patients had oedema of mucosa and rhinitis till the end of 6 months of post-operative follow up. Our study concluded that there was no significant difference in the outcome of the two techniques. CONCLUSION Keeping in mind the anatomy and physiological functions, inferior turbinoplasty takes an upper hand, owing to the preservation and maintenance of the inferior turbinate, despite being statistically insignificant with inferior turbinectomy