[Submucosal resection of the inferior nasal turbinates]

Nasal obstruction is frequently related to hypertrophy of the bony inferior nasal conchae. Medical management and/or isolated correction of deviation of the nasal septum are often inadequate. Surgical management, although it has raised controversy, becomes the only therapeutical course. Submucosal resection of the conchae was performed in 104 patients between 1986 and 1988. Subjective analysis of postoperative data shows 82% of successful surgery cases yielding good nasal repermeabilization with some minor unpleasant effects, such as nasal crusts or discharge in 46% of cases. The authors describe the surgical technique as well as its indications, and its advantages as compared to medical treatment, cauterization or subtotal resection of the conchae in incapacitating nasal obstruction cases.