Microdebrider for reduction of inferior turbinate: evaluation of effectiveness by computed tomography.
OBJECTIVE
The microdebrider has been widely used in rhinologic surgery in the last few years, and there are reports on its use for inferior turbinate reduction. Computed tomography (CT) is commonly employed to show the reduction in the inferior turbinate after surgery; however, measurements on the scans are rarely made.


METHODS
A prospective study.


METHODS
A tertiary research and training hospital.


METHODS
We investigated the effectiveness of microdebrider reduction in inferior turbinate hypertrophy in 12 turbinates of 9 patients.


METHODS
Mean bone thicknesses were measured in CT in the anterior and middle portions of the inferior turbinates as an objective parameter. Preoperative and postoperative visual analogue scale scores for symptoms and endoscopic grading of the inferior turbinates were also used.


RESULTS
In the postoperative period, visual analogue scale scores for nasal obstruction decreased significantly. Endoscopic grading revealed that the inferior turbinates were significantly smaller in the postoperative period. Postoperative mean bone thicknesses measured in CT in the anterior and the middle portions of the inferior turbinates were significantly smaller than the preoperative ones; however, there was no significant difference between the measurements of the medial and lateral soft tissue thicknesses.


CONCLUSIONS
We suggest microdebrider turbinate surgery as a reliable alternative method for inferior turbinate reduction, especially in case of hypertrophy of the turbinate bone. Measurement of the inferior turbinate size in paranasal CT is a useful objective method for evaluation of the inferior turbinate hypertrophy and the assessment of the surgical outcomes.
Ozcan
K Murat
KM
Department of Radiodiagnostics, Ankara Numune Education and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey. kursatmuratozcan@yahoo.com
Gedikli
Yesim
Y
Ozcan
Ibrahim
I
Pasaoglu
Lale
L
Dere
Huseyin
H
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003646:Debridement / Q000295:instrumentation*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015508:Nasal Obstruction / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014420:Turbinates / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery*