Surgical Management of Turbinate Hypertrophy

Inferior turbinate reduction is a common technique used to improve nasal breathing in patients with inferior turbinate hypertrophy. Subjective nasal breathing improves for the majority of patients with most surgical techniques, but effectiveness often diminishes over time. Inferior turbinate reduction techniques typically have low complication rates. Empty nose syndrome is a rare complication associated most classically with total or subtotal inferior turbinate reduction. Most techniques attempt to preserve the turbinate mucosa for the purposes of preserving normal mucociliary clearance and sensation. Clinical trials comparing inferior turbinate reduction techniques as well as studies on long-term effectiveness, value, and cost are needed.