Laser-turbinectomy: long-term results

Hypertrophy of the inferior turbinates is a common cause of nasal obstructi on. Many cases respond to medical treatment with topical steroids or antihi stamines. In some patients, however, this therapy is not sufficient and thr ough the years many surgical procedures have been used to reduce the size o f the inferior turbinates, but without any satisfactory long-term results. Furthermore, these procedures have often been painful to the patient and po st-operative complications such as bleeding and crusting have not been unco mmon. However, instead of conventional surgery of the turbinates, laser-sur gery can be used to reduce their size. In order to investigate the long-ter m effect of such gross reduction of the turbinates we investigated the post -operative condition of 78 patients who had undergone CO2-laser-turbinectom y due to symptoms of nasal obstruction. Twenty-four to 36 months post-opera tively three quarters of all the patients reported a marked decrease in nas al obstruction as well as a reduced frequency of nasal and sinus infections . No complications were reported and the procedure was without any discomfo rt to the patient. Thus, laser-turbinectomy seems to be an effective, simpl e and painless method for treatment of nasal obstruction due to hypertrophy of the inferior turbinates.