title: The forgotten turbinate: the role of the superior turbinate in endoscopic sinus surgery.
abstract: The fate of the middle turbinate in endoscopic sinus surgery has been a subject of debate for some time. The superior turbinate's role, however, has been largely passed over. Past anatomic descriptions and illustrations have given surgeons the incorrect impression that this structure is well superior and out of the field of dissection. Injury to the superior turbinate may account for postoperative hyposmia. The superior turbinate also serves as a constant landmark for the sphenoethmoidal recess, and a limited resection allows the surgeon to identify and include the natural ostium of the sphenoid sinus in the sphenoidotomy. The embryology and anatomy of the superior turbinate are reviewed. An approach to the natural ostium of the sphenoid sinus from the lateral side of the middle turbinate, using the superior turbinate as a guide, is described.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Michigan School of Medicine, Ann Arbor 48109-0312, USA.
authors.forename: R R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Orlandi
authors.forename: D C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Lanza
authors.forename: W E
authors.initials: WE
authors.lastname: Bolger
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Clerico
authors.forename: D W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Kennedy
mesh_terms: D004210:Dissection / Q000009:adverse effects; D004724:Endoscopy / Q000009:adverse effects; D005005:Ethmoid Sinus / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008443:Maxillary Sinus / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D000857:Olfaction Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D013101:Sphenoid Sinus / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000601:surgery*; D014420:Turbinates / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000196:embryology / Q000293:injuries