“Evaluation of nasal obstruction by measuring the thickness of the inferior turbinate and nasal obstruction questionnaire

Back ground: Nasal obstruction is one of the commonest annoying symptoms of Sepal deviation, this deviation is usually accompanied by compensatory hypertrophy of the inferior turbinate on the concave side which increase nasal obstruction. Objectives: To evaluate nasal obstruction after septoplasty by measure size of the inferior turbinate and Nasal Surgical Questionnaire (NSQ) score in patients with nasal septum deviation with compensatory turbinate hypertrophy. Patients & Methods: This is study of 50 patients, complaining mainly of nasal obstruction. Otolaryngological examination had shown nasal septum deviation with compensatory hypertrophy of the inferior turbinate. The cross sectional areas of inferior turbinates were measured with computed tomography preoperatively & 6 months postoperatively. All patient answerd NSQ preoperatively & 6 months postoperatively. All the patients underwent only septoplasty without inferior turbinate surgery. Results: The thickness of inferior turbinates on the concave side were significantly decreased after 6 months of septoplasty, while that of convex sides significantly increased. NSQ score show significant post operative improvement. Conclusion: only without turbinate surgery is effective in improving the nasal obstruction in patients with nasal septum deviation & compensatory inferior turbinate hypertrophy. Septoplasty alone can reverse the size of inferior turbinate. Pre and postoperative NSQ score after Septoplasty resulted in a statistically significant improvement in nasal obstruction