Compensatory Inferior Turbinate Surgery in Septorhinoplasty

Nasal obstruction is a common complaint among patients with nasal septal deviation and is one of the major indications for septorhinoplasty. Although correction of septal deviation often improves nasal airflow, some patients present with compensatory inferior turbinate hypertrophy that may contribute to persistent nasal obstruction. For this reason, inferior turbinate surgery is frequently performed during septorhinoplasty. However, the additional functional benefit of routine turbinate intervention in these patients remains controversial.

This prospective randomized controlled study aims to evaluate the effect of compensatory inferior turbinate surgery on functional outcomes in patients undergoing septorhinoplasty. Patients with nasal obstruction due to septal deviation who are scheduled for septorhinoplasty will be enrolled and randomly assigned to one of two treatment groups: septorhinoplasty alone or septorhinoplasty combined with inferior turbinate surgery.

All surgical procedures will be performed using standard septorhinoplasty techniques. In the intervention group, inferior turbinate reduction will be performed during the same surgical session. Postoperative functional outcomes will be evaluated using both subjective and objective assessment tools. Subjective nasal obstruction will be assessed with the Nasal Obstruction Symptom Evaluation (NOSE) scale, and objective nasal airflow will be measured using peak nasal inspiratory flow (PNIF).

Patients will be followed for six months after surgery. Functional outcomes will be compared between the two groups to determine whether additional inferior turbinate surgery provides clinically meaningful improvement in nasal airway function when performed simultaneously with septorhinoplasty.

Inclusion criteria

• Patients older than 18 years
• Patients presenting with nasal obstruction and aesthetic concerns requiring septorhinoplasty
• Presence of nasal septal deviation confirmed by anterior rhinoscopy, nasal endoscopy, or computed tomography
• Presence of compensatory inferior turbinate hypertrophy in the contralateral nasal cavity
• Patients willing to participate and able to provide informed consent

Exclusion criteria

• Previous nasal, septal, or turbinate surgery
• Chronic rhinosinusitis with or without nasal polyps
• Bilateral inferior turbinate hypertrophy
• Absence of compensatory inferior turbinate hypertrophy
• Patients requiring additional nasal procedures or grafting techniques beyond the standardized surgical protocol
• Incomplete follow-up