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Health care information for sinusitis sufferers |
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Health care information for sinusitis sufferers |
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Treatment OptionsSurgical Treatment OptionsAdenoidectomy | Endoscopic Sinus Surgery | Ethmoidectomy |Extended Endscopic Frontal Sinus Surgery | Frontal Sinusotomy | FESS (Functional Endoscopic Sinus Surgery) | Maxillary Sinusotomy | Open Frontal Sinus Surgery | Polypectomy | Reduction Removal of Inferior Turbinate | Reduction Removal of Middle Turbinate | Septoplasty | Sphenoidotomy | Tumor Removal Reduction/Removal of the Inferior Turbinate Protruding into each breathing passage are bony projections called turbinates that increase the surface area of the inside of the nose and boost its 'air conditioning' and air-filtering functions. There are three turbinates (inferior, middle, and superior) on each side of the nose. Large, swollen inferior turbinates can lead to blockage of nasal breathing. There are two main reasons for enlargement. Most of the time, enlarged inferior turbinates are the result of allergies, irritating environmental exposure, or some minor persistent inflammation within the sinuses. Another reason is deformity of the nasal septum that has caused the bone on the wider side of the turbinate to increase in size. In the case of allergy- or irritant-related enlargement, treatment of the underlying problem may reduce turbinate swelling and solve the problem. If not, turbinate reduction surgery may be required. Because the turbinates help the nose to clean and humidify the air we breathe, it is usually better to leave as much tissue intact as possible. The doctor will probably opt for selective, or targeted, turbinate reduction – rather than extensive reduction. If the procedure is isolated, and not part of another sinus operation, reduction of the inferior turbinate is usually performed under local anesthesia. Sometimes, surgery is guided by a headlight, but increasingly, surgeons use endoscopes to improve visualization and provide a magnified view during surgery. Once oriented, the surgeon makes an incision in the lining mucosa of the turbinate and carefully removes the underlying bone of the turbinate. If selective removal of soft tissue is also necessary, it can be accomplished using a microdebrider or laser. Occasionally, persistent swollen inferior turbinates are effectively treated with a freezing technique (cryotherapy). Alternately, they are heated with radio frequency electrical current (cautery or radiofrequency surgery). These methods cannot be used when the surgeon must remove an enlarged underlying turbinate bone. Complications associated with inferior turbinate surgery include bleeding, crusting, dryness, and scarring. If you undergo an inferior turbinate reduction, your doctor may prescribe a spray or watery solution to relieve dryness and aid in healing. There is generally less risk of serious complications today than in the past, when inferior turbinates were extensively cut out, sometimes causing excessive crusting and nasal dysfunction. Email This Article To A Friend Printer-friendly Version Find an ENT Professional Near You
THIS SITE DOES NOT PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE. IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY, CALL YOUR DOCTOR OR 911 IMMEDIATELY. All articles and graphics copyright ©2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008 Medtronic, Inc. All rights reserved. Version 2.0 This web page was first published on May 22, 2002, and was last updated on June 14, 2006. |
