Clinical characteristics and its significance of management of middle turbinate in endoscopic sinus surgery

OBJECTIVE To evaluate theclinical characteristics and its significance of individualized management of middle turbinate, and to discuss the efficacy of individualized management of middle turbinopathy in endoscopic sinus surgery. METHODS The clinical data of 68 patients with middle turbinopathy, chronic sinusitis and nasal polyp were analyzed retrospectively. By means of study of the shapes, pathological types and lesion extent of middle turbinate, and the relationship of middle turbinate with nasal sinuses, middle meatus, uncinate process, nasal septum, the efficacy of individualized management of middle turbinate after endoscopic sinus surgery was evaluated. RESULTS Among 68 cases, there were 23 cases with concha bullosa, 5 cases with paradoxical curve of the middle turbinate, 25 cases with mucosal polyp of middle turbinate, 6 cases with polyp of middle turbinate, and 9 cases with hypertrophy of bilateral middle turbinate. All of the cases with different extent obstruction of middle turbinate. All the cases were followed up for 6 to 12 months after operation. The nasal adhesion occurred in 19 cases (19/68, 28 %) at 2 to 4 weeks, 11 cases (11/68,16 %) at 5 to 8 weeks, 8 cases (8/68,12 %) at 9 to 12 weeks, 4 cases (4/68, 1.8 %) at 6 to 12 months. The location of nasal adhesion were adhesion with external lateral of nasal cavity in 30 cases, adhesion with inferior turbinate in 9 cases, adhesion with nasal septum in 3 cases. In all of the cases, the cure rate was 72 % (49/68), the improved rate was 26 %(18/68), the ineffective rate was 1.8 %(1/68). CONCLUSION It is necessary that management of different extent and type ofmiddle turbinopathy individualize in endoscopic sinus surgery. Middle turbinate anaplasty is probably benefit for recovering the function of middle turbinate and improving clinical efficacy.