Turbinate reduction

Turbinate reduction is a surgical procedure, that removes tissue, and sometimes bone, of the turbinates in the nasal passage, particularly the inferior nasal concha. The procedure is usually performed to relieve nasal obstructions. In most cases, turbinate hypertrophy is accompanied by some septum deviation, so the surgery is done along with septoplasty. Turbinate reduction is usually performed when medical management fails to resolve turbinate hypertrophy, where the turbinates are swollen and enlarged. Common causes of this condition are allergies, environmental irritants, or a deviated septum. There are many different techniques used in turbinate reduction, including turbinectomy (partial, total), electrocautery, cryotherapy (cryoturbinectomy), laser vaporization, and various methods of turbinoplasty. These require general anesthesia. The use of radiofrequency ablation has shown to be a safer alternative, being performed as an outpatient procedure, using lidocaine for local anesthesia. It does not alter the epithelial structure or function. It causes no postoperative pain, bleeding, or crusting, though it can result in some temporary nasal blockage or rhinorrhea due to resulting inflammation.