Turbinate Hypertrophy
Turbinates are structures located on the lateral walls of the nose, extending into the nasal air passage. They are tissue parts that aid in humidifying and warming the air taken into the nose. When they grow excessively, they can lead to nasal congestion.
Turbinates are composed of bone and the soft tissues surrounding the bone. The growth of bone or soft tissues can contribute to their enlargement. The condition of enlarged turbinates is referred to as turbinate hypertrophy.
Diagnosis
Turbinate hypertrophy can be diagnosed by your doctor through a detailed history and examination. Endoscopy (visualization of the inside of the nose with a camera) is often used in the diagnosis.
After diagnosis, your doctor may suggest various treatment options. Initially, medication may be recommended. Many patients experience slight reduction in the size of turbinates and alleviation of nasal congestion with medication. If complaints persist despite medication, surgical methods may be considered to reduce the size of the turbinates.
Surgery
There are several methods available for reducing turbinates, and some can even be performed in office conditions. Turbinate procedures are most commonly performed in conjunction with septum surgery.
Regardless of the method applied, it is crucial not to completely remove the turbinates. Complete removal could impair nasal functions, causing the nose to become excessively dry and crusty, leading to unpleasant odors. While there may be a risk of recurrence with reduction methods, it is generally preferable to experiencing these complaints.
Various options exist for reducing turbinates, including cautery, coblation, radiofrequency, microdebrider, and partial reduction. These methods involve applying heat to the soft tissues in a specific way, allowing the turbinates to shrink during the healing process. No tissue is removed from the turbinates in these procedures.
In other methods (such as microdebrider and submucosal turbinate resection), a small amount of tissue is removed from the soft tissue or bone while preserving the turbinate mucosa. The tissue is removed to achieve reduction and healing. It is essential in these methods to leave enough tissue to ensure proper warming and humidification of the air.
In some cases, nasal packing may be applied, although it is unnecessary in most methods.
Postoperative Care
After turbinate reduction, it is common to experience a feeling of fullness, mild throbbing, and slight nasal discharge. Pain relievers, saline solutions, and nasal moisturizers are typically prescribed. Your doctor will provide you with information on postoperative care.
