Millions of people in the U.S. suffer from nasal problems each year, and according to Aurora Healthcare, more than 30 people in the U.S. alone are diagnosed with sinusitis each year. Air needs to be cleaned, warmed, and kept humid before it reaches our lungs, and turbinates play an important role in this. Inside the side walls of the nose are turbinates, which are responsible for keeping the air that enters into our nose moist, warm, and filtered. When turbinates don’t function correctly, a whole host of problems can arise, including difficulty breathing and snoring, and this can be caused by chronic sinusitis.
Turbinate Hypertrophy
Turbinate hypertrophy, or enlarged turbinates, are associated with symptoms such as:
· Nosebleeds
· Chronic sinus infections
· Chronic sinusitis
· Difficulty breathing
· Snoring and sleep apnea
· Postnasal drip
· Bad breath and even tooth decay
Each of these can be caused by a deviated septum, the thin wall of bone and cartilage that separates the left and right nasal cavities. When the septum is displaced or deviated, the turbinate can become inflamed on the opposite, resulting in two blocked nasal passageways—one from the deviated septum and the other from the enlarged turbinate. The resulting discomfort can have patients desperate for help.
Turbinate Reduction and Treatments
The good news for those who suffer from turbinate hypertrophy is that there are treatments and solutions available. Turbinate reduction surgery is one of these solutions that can correct nasal obstruction by reducing the size of the enlarged turbinate. Oftentimes the surgery is performed along with a septoplasty to correct a deviated septum as well. Here’s what you can expect.
1. The surgery will be performed under general to ensure patient comfort during the procedure.
2. Your surgeon will use a thin tube with a light at the end called an endoscope, to be able to see into the nose.
3. A small incision will be made in the turbinate. From this small incision, your surgeon will remove the bone of the turbinate. Your surgeon might also thin out the tissue around the turbinate.
4. This procedure is usually reserved for more serious cases of turbinate enlargement and is often done in conjunction with a septoplasty, which involves cutting into the nasal cavity to correct a deviated septum.
An alternative to this that many surgeons elect for is cauterizing with radio frequency. This causes scar tissue to form, which reduces the size of the turbinate. This is usually done with only local anesthesia and does not involve the removal of underlying bone or tissue.
If you suffer from nasal problems including chronic sinus infections, difficulty breathing, snoring, or more, you might be a good candidate for a turbinate reduction procedure. Although most people experience issues with their turbinates from time to time and most problems go away on their own, some patients suffer from turbinate hypertrophy that isn’t quite as easily reversed or taken care of on their own. Talk to your doctor today.
