Surgery of the inferior turbinates: how much and when?

Surgery of the inferior turbinates should be performed only after a trial period of medical therapy. Surgical reduction in turbinate size may be accomplished by outfracture crushing, cauterization, cryotherapy, laser vaporization, submucous resection, partial turbinate resection, turbinoplasty, or total turbinectomy. The procedure chosen should be the most conservative one consistent with obtaining a good airway.