Background: A microdébrider was selected to accomplish partial inferior turbinectomy, allowing for controlled and rapid removal of hypertrophic soft tissue while preserving the general turbinate form.
Objective: To assess the clinical outcome, healing, and any adverse consequences from the microdébrider partial turbinectomy procedure.
Setting: A public hospital in north-central Israel.
Design: A nonrandomized prospective study of 35 adults who were referred for nasal airway surgery, including turbinectomy.
Methods: All patients underwent bilateral inferior turbinate reduction with the microdébrider, with removal of mucosa from the medial and inferior portions of the inferior turbinates. Detailed follow-up was accomplished at 4 or more months postoperatively, including a visual analogue scale questionnaire and videoendoscopy. For seven patients, pre- and postoperative mucosal biopsies were available to evaluate healing and epithelial regeneration.
Results: Nasal endoscopy showed well-healed turbinate membranes and preservation of the turbinate form, with widening of the inferomedial nasal airway space. Subjective nasal patency improved after surgery, p < .01, and the subjective sense of smell was improved, p < .01, without associated crusting, pain, irritation, sneezing, or dryness. Postoperative biopsies showed subepithelial fibrosis and regenerated epithelium, generally of respiratory differentiation.
Conclusion: Inferior turbinate reduction can be accomplished efficiently with the microdébrider device, without undue side effects.
Significance: Further experience and long-term follow-up with this technique are warranted.