LONG-TERM RESULTS OF TRIMMING OF THE INFERIOR TURBINATES

The long-term benefit of trimming of the inferior turbinates for nasal obstruction is unclear and our aim was to assess this. Fourteen patie nts who had had pre-operative nasal symptom scores and anterior rhinom anometry prior to inferior turbinate resection were reassessed al leas t 7 years post-operatively. Both nasal symptom scores for obstruction and nasal resistance had increased significantly in the intervening ti me period. Nasal crusting and hypertrophy of the cut inferior turbinat e are considered to be responsible for this. Patients should be warned some degree of nasal obstruction may recur post-operatively.