Partial Inferior Turbinectomy;

Abstract

Objective: To assess the effectiveness of partial inferior turbinectomy in relieving the symptoms of nasal obstruction in casesof inferior turbinate hypertrophy and to compare the results in terms of relief from nasal obstruction in response to total inferior turbinectomy.Design: Comparative Study. Setting: Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and neck surgery, CMH Rawalpindi. Period: From January2004 to November 2004. Patients and Methods: A total of 60 patients with inferior turbinate hypertrophy were selected by convenientsampling. 30 patients were treated by partial inferior turbinectomy and 30 by total inferior turbinectomy and result in terms of relief of nasalobstruction based on VAS (Visual Analogue Score) was observed with follow up carried out at interval of one week and then two months.Results: All cases of both the groups showed complete relief of nasal obstruction after 02 months, showing 100% results. Out of 30 casesmanaged by total inferior turbinectomy 4 cases (13%) developed atrophic rhinitis. Conclusion: Partial inferior turbinectomy is as good as totalinferior turbinectomy in relieving nasal obstruction with an edge of avoiding complications like atrophic rhinitis