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Medial flap middle turbinoplasty for solid middle turbinate hypertrophy: improving airway, speeding healing and preserving olfaction

  • Rhinology
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European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

A Letter to the Editor to this article was published on 15 December 2023

Abstract

Purpose

The techniques to be performed for bullous middle turbinates are well-defined and widely accepted in the literature. However, in the case of solid middle turbinate hypertrophy, information on surgical techniques that take into account function and sense of smell is very limited in the literature. The aim of this study was to compare the airway patency and olfaction results of patients diagnosed with solid middle turbinate hypertrophy, who underwent subtotal (transverse) resection or medial flap turbinoplasty of the middle turbinates.

Methods

Thirty-five adult patients who were diagnosed with solid middle turbinate hypertrophy were divided into two groups, namely medial flap middle turbinoplasty (study group = 17) and transverse resection to the middle turbinate (control group = 18). Acoustic rhinometry, anterior rhinomanometry, peak nasal inspiratory flowmeter test, odor identification test, and n-butanol threshold measurements were performed before and 3 months after the surgery. In addition, preoperative and postoperative nasal obstruction and olfactory senses of the patients were evaluated with visual analog scale and nasal obstruction symptom evaluation scale.

Results

Visual analog scores for olfaction were significantly higher in the study group compared to the control group. In odor identification test, a significant improvement was observed in the study group, while a decrease was observed in the control group. While there was a decrease in the n-butanol thresholds values in the study group, there was an increase in the control group.

Conclusions

Medial mucosal flap technique is an effective and functional turbinoplasty technique that can be used in solid hypertrophy of the middle turbinate, which offers advantages in terms of enhanced airway healing and olfactory results.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Pendik Training and Research Hospital, Marmara University Medical Faculty, Pendik, Istanbul, Turkey

    Abdullah Ozdem

  2. Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Faculty of Medicine, Bezmialem Vakif University, Fatih, Istanbul, Turkey

    Orhan Ozturan, Ahmet Onur Sutcu, Remzi Dogan & Erol Senturk

Authors
  1. Abdullah Ozdem
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  2. Orhan Ozturan
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  3. Ahmet Onur Sutcu
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  4. Remzi Dogan
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  5. Erol Senturk
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Contributions

AO: conceptualization, methodology, writing—original draft preparation. OO: conceptualization, project administration, writing—reviewing and editing. AOS: visualization, resources, investigation. RD: software, supervision, formal analysis. ES: supervision, visualization, data curation.

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Correspondence to Abdullah Ozdem.

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Supplementary file1 (MP4 53827 KB) Video 1: medial flap middle turbinoplasty surgical technique

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Ozdem, A., Ozturan, O., Sutcu, A.O. et al. Medial flap middle turbinoplasty for solid middle turbinate hypertrophy: improving airway, speeding healing and preserving olfaction. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 281, 805–816 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00405-023-08264-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00405-023-08264-7

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