Comparative Study of the Effectiveness of sub mucosal Partial Inferior Turbinectomy and Out fracture of Inferior Turbinate in the Nasal Respiratory Function of Rhinoplasty Patients

Omranifard M, Adib M, Ebrahimpour Boroujeni S, Dadkhah Tirani F, Asadi S.

PubMed 31263933 Publisher (DOI)Free full text (PMC)

What this paper says

In 110 rhinoplasty patients randomized to two turbinate techniques, both improved breathing, but removing tissue from under the lining gave significantly better symptom scores from 2 months through 12 months than simply pushing the turbinate sideways.

Overview

The inferior turbinate can obstruct airflow after rhinoplasty, so surgeons often reduce it preventively. Two methods are common: removing inner tissue while keeping the surface lining, or fracturing the turbinate outward toward the nasal wall. This clinical study compared them with a validated symptom questionnaire over a full year.

Sections of note

110 rhinoplasty candidates randomly divided into two groups: submucosal partial inferior turbinectomy, and outfracture of the inferior turbinate.
The Sino-Nasal Outcome Test, SNOT-22, was used before surgery and at 1, 2, 3, 6 and 12 months after.
No significant difference between the groups before surgery or at 1 month, P above 0.05.
Mean SNOT-22 scores were significantly lower, meaning better, in the turbinectomy group at 2, 3, 6 and 12 months.
The authors conclude both methods improve respiratory function, with turbinectomy the more effective.
Level of evidence IV.
The abstract gives no numeric SNOT-22 values and no complication rates such as crusting or bleeding.

What it means for a patient

Both approaches helped breathing, so the choice is about degree rather than whether to do anything.
The advantage of the tissue-removing method appeared from two months onward, not immediately.
Removing turbinate tissue carries recognized risks of crusting and dryness, none of which are reported here.
Limits: single study, no stated blinding of assessors, no objective airflow measurement, and no complication data.

Why this paper matters

Turbinate reduction accompanies a large share of rhinoplasties, and comparative evidence between methods has been called for repeatedly. A randomized comparison with 12-month follow-up addresses that. Without complication data, the trade-off between greater symptom relief and greater tissue removal cannot be judged.

Terms

Inferior turbinate: The lowest shelf of tissue on the inner side wall of the nose.
Submucosal partial turbinectomy: Removing inner turbinate tissue while leaving the surface lining.
Outfracture: Pushing the turbinate sideways toward the nasal wall without removing tissue.
SNOT-22: A 22-item validated questionnaire covering nasal and sinus symptoms.
Internal nasal valve: The narrowest part of the nasal airway.

Summary written by rhinoplasty.cc from the abstract, 2026-09-09; not medical advice. The authors' own abstract follows.

Abstract

Introduction: The inferior turbinate is a critical and dynamic structure during rhinoplasty in the internal valve. Many surgeons try to preventively reduce its resistance against the path in the post-rhinoplasty period. To this end, the two methods of "sub mucosal partial inferior turbinectomy" and "inferior turbinate out fracture" are compared in the present study.

Methods: In this clinical study, 110 rhinoplasty candidates were randomly divided into two groups, namely sub mucosal partial inferior turbinectomy and out fracture of the inferior turbinate. To assess the complications, the Sino-Nasal Outcome Test (SNOT-22) was used prior to surgical intervention, and 1, 2, 3, 6, and 12 months following the rhinoplasty procedures.

Results: Based on the results of this clinical study and according to the SNOT-22 questionnaire, there was no significant difference between the two groups prior to surgery and a month following the surgery (P > 0.05). However, the average SNOT-22 score for the sub mucosal partial inferior turbinectomy group was significantly lower than that of the group with the out fracture of the inferior turbinate, 2, 3, 6, and 12 months following the surgery.

Conclusion: Both "sub mucosal partial inferior turbinectomy" and "out fracture of inferior turbinate" are effective methods in improving the respiratory function of rhinoplasty patients, yet the former method is more effective than the latter as regards improving the respiratory function of patients.

Level Of Evidence Iv: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .

Abstract as indexed by PubMed; the article is open access (PubMed Central).