Application of continuous suture of inferior turbinate in surgery for chronic hypertrophic rhinitis with or without nasal septum deviation.

PURPOSE: To explore the application value of continuous suture of the inferior turbinate in inferior turbinate submucosal bone resection.

METHODS

Twenty patients with chronic hypertrophic rhinitis with or without nasal septum deviation underwent inferior turbinate submucosal bone resection with or without septoplasty. The inferior turbinate was continuously sutured with or without nasal septum suture after surgery. The nasal cavity was not packed. The postoperative clinical outcome was evaluated using visual analog scales (VASs), saccharin test, nasal endoscopy, and nasal resistance test. Postoperative complications were recorded.

RESULTS

All 20 endoscopic surgeries were successfully performed. One day after surgery, the VAS scores of nasal pain (1.3 ± 0.5), headache (0.8 ± 0.4), tearing (0.3 ± 0.3), and bleeding (0.3 ± 0.3) in patients were low; 1 week after surgery, the nasal mucociliary transport time was not significantly prolonged compared to that before surgery (P > 0.05); 1 month after surgery, the symptoms of nasal congestion had improved significantly, as the VAS score for nasal congestion was lower than that before surgery (P < 0.05); the volume of the hypertrophied inferior turbinate of all patients was reduced, the mucous membrane was smooth and rosy, the nasal septum was centrally located, and the total nasal resistance values at 150 Pa pressure had returned to the normal reference range (0.282 ± 0.103 Pa/cm3/s); no complications such as bleeding, nasal infection, nasal dryness, and olfactory disorders occurred.

CONCLUSION

After inferior turbinate submucosal bone resection with or without septoplasty, inferior turbinate continuous suture with or without nasal septum suture instead of nasal packing can significantly improve postoperative discomfort, improve nasal ventilation, protect nasal function, and accelerate postoperative recovery.