Effects of middle turbinate medialization on olfaction

Turbinate medialization techniques have gained popularity in an attempt to prevent turbinate lateralization. Theoretically, adhesions between the septum and middle turbinate will prevent lateralization but may compromise airflow to the olfactory neuroepithelium and affect the sense of smell. No studies have addressed this issue. The objective of this study is to evaluate effects of middle turbinate medialization on olfaction.

A prospective controlled study of olfaction before and after middle turbinate medialization using the University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test (UP-SIT) and patient questionnaires.

Fifty patients underwent endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) with middle turbinate medialization and preservation. The caudal end of the middle turbinate and the opposing septal mucosa were abraded with a microdebrider for iatrogenic synechia formation in an attempt to avoid lateralization of the middle turbinate. Each of the patients underwent preoperative assessment with a questionnaire and UPSIT. All patients were reevaluated approximately 5 weeks after surgery by endoscopic examination, questionnaire, and the UPSIT. The preoperative and postoperative questionnaire responses were compared for subjective analysis. Objectively, the preoperative and postoperative UPSIT scores were compared using the Student t test.

The questionnaires showed that the study population's subjective sense of smell either did not change or improved compared with the preoperative state. Objectively, there was a mean increase of UPSIT scores after surgery. This difference was not statistically significant (P = .4).

Middle turbinate medialization has no detectable adverse effect on olfaction.