Functional inferior turbinosurgery (FITS) for the treatment of resistant chronic rhinitis.

CONCLUSIONS

Modified vidian neurectomy combined with inferior turbinoplasty provided an optimal surgical outcome as a treatment for intractable chronic rhinitis as evidenced by a relatively long-term follow-up.

OBJECTIVE

The study was designed to determine the efficacy of submucosal reduction of the inferior turbinate and resection of the posterior nasal nerve for the treatment of resistant chronic rhinitis.

PATIENTS AND

METHODS

Fifty-six consecutive patients (37 males and 19 females; mean+/-SD age, 26+/-11 years) with resistant allergic rhinitis or nonallergic rhinitis with eosinophilia syndrome despite medical treatment. Symptomatic improvement including nasal obstruction, nasal discharge, sneezing, smell perception, and quality of life and objective evaluation of nasal airway resistance and nasal provocation test before and after surgery were investigated.

RESULTS

The patients showed a remarkable improvement of > or = 80%, with the exception of two patients who had an approximately 50% reduction of the total symptomatic scores. Four of eight patients with anosmia subjectively improved whereas the other four patients felt unchanged. All patients who underwent rhinomanometry (n=15) and nasal provocation testing (n = 15) both before and after surgery showed a significant improvement. There were no intraoperative complications. Postoperative epistaxis occurred in one patient. One patient complained of a transient hypesthesia of the soft palate and dry eye. Nasal mucosal tears were observed in approximately 30% of the patients who otherwise showed no severe synechia or persistent crusting.