The Effects of Partial Turbinectomy on Patients Undergoing Rhinoplasty

Introduction: A reduction or cessation of the ability to breathe through the nose can affect a person's overall health. Nasal passage blockage can also result in snoring. Difficulty in breathing through the nose after rhinoplasty is a serious problem and patient dissatisfaction can be significant even when cosmetic results are excellent. Long-term impacts on the quality of life and contributions to the pathophysiology of sleep-related breathing disorders have both been documented. This study compares nasal obstruction and other prevalent respiratory side effects of rhinoplasty in the presence and absence of partial turbinectomy. Methods and Materials: This is an experimental case study conducted in 2007 on patients undergoing rhinoplastic surgery in Shahid Dastgheyb Hospital of Shiraz, Iran. Sampling was done on all admitted patients during this year in the mentioned hospital. For the first group, rhinoplasty plus partial turbinectomy was performed while taking into consideration the Helsinki criteria septorhinoplasty without partial turbinectomy was performed on the second group. P-value less than 0.05 was considered as statistically significant. Results: There was no significant difference between the case and control group in terms of their mean age and gender distribution. Respiratory mean scores before and after rhinoplasty in both groups were significantly different in some issues of Nasal Scale (i.e.: Nasal blockage or obstruction, trouble sleeping, inability to get enough air through the nose during exercise or exertion, trouble breathing through nose).  Conclusion: Achieving cosmetic goals while preserving such necessary functions is a great concern for rhinologists and this makes different complexes. To create a balance between the maximum physiologic function and the best cosmetic feature is an art.