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. DESIGN 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. SETTING University hospital. PATIENTS A total of 20 patients who presented with a chief concern of nasal obstruction. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES 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. CONCLUSION After septoplasty, inferior turbinate hypertrophy, especially in the medial mucosa, may reverse.