Surgical Techniques in Sino-Nasal Diseases

**133**

**Chapter 10**

**Abstract**

turbinoplasty

**1. Introduction**

inferior turbinate [2].

membrane interruption [2].

*and Lucia Centurione*

Turbinate Surgery in Chronic

Ultrastructural Outcomes

*Giampiero Neri, Fiorella Cazzato, Elisa Vestrini,* 

turbinate reduction with advantages and disadvantages of each one.

**Keywords:** turbinate hypertrophy, nasal obstruction, nasal surgery, techniques,

Chronic nasal obstruction is a very frequent condition in rhinological practice that severely interferes with the quality of life [1]. The most common cause of this complaint is chronic hypertrophic rhinitis. It consists of a chronical swelling of the

Turbinate hypertrophy, commonly associated with perennial allergic and nonallergic rhinitis [1], is not a simple enlargement of mucosal and submucosal tissues, but it is characterized by deep histological modifications such as severe damage of the epithelial barrier, disappearance of ciliated and goblet cells, inflammatory infiltration of the lamina propria, fibrosis, prominent venous congestion, and basement

Patients generally complain about sneezing, rhinorrhea, postnasal drip, frontal

When medical treatment with topical corticosteroids, antihistamines, and decongestants fails, surgical reduction of inferior turbinates could be attempted.

headache, blocked nasal passages, sleep disturbance, and snoring [3].

Rhinosinusitis: Techniques and

*Pasquina La Torre, Giampaolo Quaternato, Letizia Neri* 

Chronic nasal obstruction due to hypertrophic rhinitis is commonly associated with perennial allergic and nonallergic rhinitis. It is not a simple enlargement of mucosal and submucosal tissues, but it is characterized by deep histological modifications. This pathology, a very frequent condition encountered in rhinological practice, has a significant impact on quality of life. Patients usually complain about sneezing, rhinorrhea, frontal headache, postnasal drip, snoring, blocked nasal ducts, and sleep disorders. When medical therapy fails, surgical reduction of inferior turbinates is mandatory. A large variety of surgical techniques in literature exist, but there is a lack of consensus about which is the proper technique to perform. In this chapter, we describe the most important techniques of inferior
