Chronic sinusitis: a sequela of inferior turbinectomy

Inferior turbinectomy has generated a great deal of controversy among rhinologic surgeons. Proponents of partial and total inferior turbinectomy cite numerous studies of large numbers of patients with subjective relief of nasal obstruction after turbinectomy. Clinical studies critical of turbinectomy have focused on complications such as hemorrhage, crusting, adhesions, and atrophic rhinitis. Our study was undertaken to evaluate the incidence of chronic sinusitis post inferior turbinectomy. Postoperative evaluation by history, physical examination, and computerized tomography of the paranasal sinuses revealed that a significant number of patients who underwent inferior turbinectomy developed sinusitis. Patients evaluated in our clinic for nasal obstruction underwent a detailed history, physical examination along with nasal endoscopy and coronal computerized tomography of the paranasal sinuses. Those patients with nasal obstruction not responsive to medical treatment and without evidence of sinusitis underwent submucous resection and inferior turbinectomy. The incidence, cause, and possible prevention of post inferior turbinectomy sinusitis is discussed in this article.