What does turbinate mean: The turbinates consist of bone and soft tissue surrounding it, located on the wall between the nose and sinuses, and there are 3 on each side. They are named as the lower, middle, and upper turbinates. Many of the sinuses around the nose open into the space between the inferior and middle turbinates.
Nasal Evolution and Surgery (Concha)
Why Conchae Enlarge: Conchae sometimes enlarge and sometimes shrink according to the normal functioning of the nose. However, their growth to cause nasal obstruction usually develops due to allergic or inflammatory reasons. This type of growth is usually seen in the inferior turbinate. Growths in the middle turbinate are often due to the presence of an air cyst in the turbinate. If the patient has a deviation of the septum to one side, an enlargement of the inferior turbinate on the other side may be seen.
What Symptoms Does It Cause: The most important and often the only complaint of turbinate enlargement is nasal congestion. This blockage can be on one or both sides. Whichever side the patient lies on, there will be more congestion on that side. Apart from nasal congestion, complaints related to snoring, post-nasal drip, sinusitis or allergies may occur.
What is seen on examination: In the nasal examination, especially the growth of the lower turbinates is noticed. The enlargement of the middle turbinate is more difficult to notice. Concomitant discharge or signs of allergy may be detected.
How to Diagnose: Diagnosis is made by visualizing the growth. However, computed tomography should be performed to see the dimensions of all turbinates, to see if there is sinusitis, to determine the presence of air cysts, and to determine the procedures to be performed if surgery is considered.
How to Treat: Initially, drug therapy is applied to shrink the turbinates. For this purpose, cortisone nasal sprays were found to be the most effective. Sometimes it can be injected directly into the turbinate. Treatment of allergy in turbinate enlargements due to allergies can make the turbinate shrink. However, drug therapy is often not enough and surgery is required. Air cysts in the middle turbinate can only be treated with surgery.
How the Surgery is Performed: Many types of surgery have been described so far to shrink the turbinates. These include burning (cauterization) of the turbinate and outward rupture of the turbinate. The most effective method is complete or partial removal of the turbinate. Recently, radiofrequency waves have also been used to shrink the turbinate. In surgeries other than removal of the turbinate, regrowth is common. The surgery can be performed with both general and local anesthesia. After the operation, a tampon is usually placed in the nose. There are no surgical scars other than the nose.
What are the Risks of the Surgery: Apart from anesthesia complications, the most common problem in surgery for turbinates is bleeding. Because turbinates are organs with a lot of blood supply, this situation is sometimes severe. Apart from that, they are generally safe surgeries.
What should I pay attention to after the operation: After the operation, there is usually not much problem for the patient. There may be some headache and restlessness due to tampons. There may be crusting in the nose after the tampons are removed. Your doctor will clean them appropriately at the intervals he will determine.