Effect of septoplasty on inferior turbinate hypertrophy.
OBJECTIVE
To measure the effect of septoplasty on the volume of inferior turbinate in patients with a deviated nasal septum.


METHODS
In this retrospective analysis, patients who underwent septoplasty without turbinate surgery from May 1, 2003, through April 30, 2006, were studied. The thicknesses and cross-sectional areas of mucosa and conchal bones were measured with computed tomography before the operations and at least 1 year after the operations.


METHODS
University hospital.


METHODS
A total of 20 patients who presented with a chief concern of nasal obstruction.


METHODS
The thicknesses of the medial mucosa, bone, and lateral mucosa and the cross-sectional area of turbinate before and after septoplasty were compared using the Wilcoxon signed rank test. P < .05 was considered statistically significant.


RESULTS
The medial mucosa and cross-sectional area of the inferior turbinate on the concave side of the septum were significantly decreased by septoplasty (both, P = .01), and the medial mucosa and cross-sectional area of the inferior turbinate on the convex side of the septum were significantly increased by septoplasty (P = .01). The thicknesses and cross-sectional areas of the conchal bone on the concave and convex sides of the septum were not affected by septoplasty.


CONCLUSIONS
After septoplasty, inferior turbinate hypertrophy, especially in the medial mucosa, may reverse.
Kim
Dong Hyun
DH
Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Our Lady of Mercy Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea, Inchon, South Korea.
Park
Hun Yi
HY
Kim
Ho Sung
HS
Kang
Sung Ook
SO
Park
Jung Sub
JS
Han
Nam Soo
NS
Kim
Hyun Jun
HJ
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015576:Hyperostosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009300:Nasal Septum / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D011859:Radiography; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012225:Rhinoplasty; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014420:Turbinates / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*