Does septoplasty change the dimensions of compensatory hypertrophy of the middle turbinate?
To measure the dimensions of compensatory hypertrophy of the middle turbinate in patients with nasal septal deviation, before and after septoplasty. The mucosal and bony structures of the middle turbinate and the angle of the septum were measured using radiological analysis before septoplasty and at least one year after septoplasty. All pre- and post-operative measurements of the middle turbinate were compared using the paired sample t-test and Wilcoxon rank sum test. The dimensions of bony and mucosal components of the middle turbinate on concave and convex sides of the septum were not significantly changed by septoplasty. There was a significant negative correlation after septoplasty between the angle of the septum and the middle turbinate total area on the deviated side (p = 0.033).
The present study findings suggest that compensatory hypertrophy of the middle turbinate is not affected by septoplasty, even after one year.