Role of Inferior Turbinoplasty in Endoscopic Sinus Surgery: A Systematic Review

Functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS) is widely used to treat chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) and related sinonasal diseases, often performed alongside inferior turbinoplasty to improve symptoms. However, the added value of concurrent turbinoplasty remains unclear. This systematic review evaluates outcomes of FESS with and without inferior turbinoplasty. A systematic search of MEDLINE, Embase, and Cochrane databases was conducted following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. After screening, five studies comprising 4,619 patients met the inclusion criteria. Four studies assessed quality of life (QoL), all demonstrating postoperative improvement with both FESS alone and FESS plus inferior turbinoplasty. Only one study showed a significant QoL benefit with turbinoplasty; the others found no meaningful difference. One study evaluated olfaction and reported no significant impact from additional turbinoplasty. Revision surgery rates were not reported in any study. A paediatric study found no increased 30-day readmission risk associated with turbinoplasty. Concurrent inferior turbinoplasty with FESS appears safe and may offer benefit in select patient subgroups, such as those with nasal polyps. However, routine addition does not consistently improve overall QoL or olfactory outcomes. Further randomised controlled trials are required to clarify its clinical value.