Update on surgical management of adult inferior turbinate hypertrophy.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

There are numerous surgical managements of hypertrophic inferior turbinate. Controversy still exists involving the optimal surgical technique for hypertrophic inferior turbinate. The current review will discuss the most commonly used techniques for turbinate surgery and highlight their recently published clinical outcomes.

RECENT FINDINGS

Microdebrider-assisted turbinoplasty, along with total removal of inferior turbinate mucosa, turned out to have no negative impact on healing time and no adverse postoperative events. The majority of recently published studies were focused on surgical outcomes of radiofrequency ablation. It appears that radiofrequency ablation could improve nasal resistance, sense of smell, and nasal mucociliary function. A 1470-nm diode laser was found superior to a conventional 940-nm diode laser in reducing scar formation. Ultrasonic bone aspirator was used to manage hypertrophic inferior turbinate caused by bone enlargement. Few recent literatures report turbinectomy.

SUMMARY

Inferior turbinate surgery offers benefit and improves nasal obstruction in patients with hypertrophic inferior turbinate refractory to medical treatment. Rigorously designed study including subjective and objective measurements, control or comparison group, and long-term follow-up should be carried out in the future.