Inferior partial turbinectomy: An effective procedure for chronic rhinitis

Abstract

The safety and effectiveness of inferior partial turbinectomy (IPT) as a treatment for refractory chronic rhinitis was studied. Fifty-five patients, 34 males and 21 females, underwent IPT for chronic rhinitis, the majority under local anesthesia and in conjunction with septoplasty. Relief of nasal obstruction, rhinorrhea, snoring, headache, and obstructive sleep apnea was subjectively measured after an average follow-up of 18 months. We noted particularly high success rates-92.3% and 85.5%-for nasal obstruction and rhinorrhea, respectively. Complications, in the form of post-op bleeding, were low at 3.7%. We conclude that IPT is an effective and safe procedure when properly performed. This work should help otolaryngologists become more comfortable in performing this old but controversial technique for treating chronic rhinitis.