Septoplasty and compensatory inferior turbinate hypertrophy: a randomized study evaluated by acoustic rhinometry

The present study deals with the indication for inferior turbinate surgery in cases of concomitant anterior septal deviation. We define, by acoustic rhinometry, the characteristics of the obstructed nose and define mucosal turbinate hypertrophy. A random sample of 80 patients with nasal obstruction and anteriorly located septal deviation were objectively evaluated by acoustic rhinometry pre- and post-operatively. All had septoplasty and half were randomly selected to have anterior inferior turbinoplasty performed in the side opposite to the major septal deviation. Severe septal deviation, expressed by a minimal cross-sectional area less than 0.4 cm2 was present in 37 patients. In this group inferior turbinate reduction seems advisable. In the wide side, the minimal cross-sectional area and the cross-sectional areas at 3.3 and 4.0 cm from the nostrils increased in the turbinectomy group and decreased in the non-turbinectomy group after correction of the septal deviation. In the group with less pronounced septal deviation no influence of turbinate reduction could be detected.