Utility of Inferior Turbinoplasty for the Treatment of Nasal Obstruction in Children

Abstract

Inferior turbinoplasty showed overall utility and was safe and effective in the treatment of nasal obstruction in children for whom medical management had failed. No differences between surgical techniques were found in patient satisfaction, improvement of nasal patency, and recurrence, likely related to sample size. More than half of the patients continued to use medical therapy postoperatively, suggesting that inferior turbinate hypertrophy should not be considered solely as a surgical disease. Allergic rhinitis was identified as a significant comorbidity.

Complications of turbinate reduction surgery in combination with tonsillectomy in pediatric patients

“…Incidentally, we noted that turbinoplasty was performed more frequently in male patients. This finding is consistent with prior studies that showed a male predominance . This may be related to gender differences in the prevalence of rhinitis, but the data in this regard are conflicting.…”

“…This finding is consistent with prior studies that showed a male predominance. 8,14 This may be related to gender differences in the prevalence of rhinitis, but the data in this regard are conflicting. Some studies have demonstrated an increased prevalence of rhinitis in pre-adolescent males, whereas others have shown no significant gender differences.…”

The Effectiveness of Inferior Turbinoplasty in Children with Nasal Obstruction

“…5 Inferior turbinoplasty (IT) in pediatric patients is a common procedure used to treat childhood nasal obstruction, the goals for the ideal inferior turbinoplasty include maximizing nasal airflow while limiting crusting and synechiae formation by preserving the turbinate mucosa. 6 This is a prospective study included a total of 40 children patients with bilateral nasal obstruction due to bilateral hypertrophied inferior turbinates. Patients did not respond to medical treatment for 3 successive months and all these patients were subjected to turbinate reduction through inferior turbinoplasty.…”

Inferior Turbinate Hypertrophy: A Review of the Evolution of Management in Children

“…Despite a limited complications profile, laser cautery has never been a commonly used technique in the pediatric population, likely because of the more extensive record of evidence in adults. 15,16 In adults, laser treatment has produced similarly variable efficacy, with studies demonstrating a direct association between the volume of turbinate reduction and degree of mucosal destruction. 22 Thus, more recently developed techniques including submucous debridement and radiofrequency volumetric tissue reduction offer more consistent results with greater preservation of functional mucosal tissue.…”