Inferior Turbinate Reduction

Obstruction to nasal breathing can be caused by a number of conditions. One of these conditions is due to hypertrophy (enlargement) of the inferior turbinates within the nasal cavity. The turbinates are boney structures inside the nose that are covered with a mucus membrane. They are responsible for moisturizing the air we breathe by increasing the surface area within the nasal cavities.

Occasionally, the turbinates enlarge and remain enlarged. When this happens, it becomes difficult to breathe properly through the nose. Diagnosis is made by examination and a history of non-responsive treatment with nasal sprays.

Reduction of the inferior turbinates is a common procedure and in many cases can be done in the office using cautery or radio frequency surgery. In more difficult cases, turbinate reduction is done as a surgical procedure either under local anesthesia with sedation or general anesthesia and is frequently done in conjunction with surgery to correct a deviated septum.

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