In one of your Q&As, you talk about turbinate surgery using a laser.
My doctor has recommended trimming turbinates without a laser (with
just a scalpel, I guess) and then using packing that "melts" away, to
avoid scar tissue formation. He said the recovery period for a partial
turbinectomy and septoplasty (minor) would be less than a week. Your
opinion? Also, are there any downsides to this surgery? After years
and years of having a stuffy nose and using ineffective decongestants
and nasal steroid sprays, I'm looking for a permanent fix.
Reply ------------
The technique favored for performing a partial turbinectomy depends more on surgeon preference and experience and many techniques are capable of similar successful outcomes. Each technique may have its own advantages and/or disadvantages when compared with others. I tend to prefer the laser technique since nasal packing after surgery is rarely required. A disadvantage to the laser technique is that nasal crusting is fairly common after surgery and may last for a few weeks. However, nasal crusting following any technique of turbinate surgery is common. Other risks include nose bleeding that can occur in varying degrees - usually minor - but can occur up to a few weeks after surgery most of the time related to dryness and crusting. The most signficant potential risk to turbinate surgery of any technique outside of nose bleeding, is felt to be related to over-resection of the turbinate. The turbinates do have a necessary function - namely to warm and humidify the air we breath. Over-resection could in rare cases lead to a condition known as atrophic rhinitis characterized by chronic dryness, crusting, nose bleeding, and foul odor. To avoid this complication, typically no more than 1/3 to at most 1/2 of the turbinate is trimmed, only that which is necessary to alleviate the chronic airflow disturbance.
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Steve Dankle, MD
Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery
Milwaukee, Wis
NOTICE: OFCN is not engaged in the rendering of professional medical services. The information contained on this system or any other OFCN system should not supplant individual professional consultation. It is offered exclusively as a community education service. Advice on individual problems must be obtained directly from a professional.
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