Middle Turbinate Resection Versus its Preservation in Patients with Chronic Polypoid Rhinosinusitis Undergoing Endoscopic Sinus Surgery

The present study compared middle turbinate resection versus its preservation in patients with chronic polypoid rhinosinusitis undergoing FESS. In this clinical trial study, 105 patients with chronic polypoid rhinosinusitis undergoing endoscopic sinus surgery were involved. In the study group, patients underwent endoscopic sinus surgery along with partial middle turbinate resection, while in the control group only endoscopic sinus surgery was performed. SNOT-22 test results (Sino-Nasal Outcome Test) and CT scan of paranasal sinuses results (Lund- Mackay), quality of life, the smell status and nasal congestion were recorded before the operation and then 6 months after the surgery. The average quality of life score did not have a statistically significant difference between the two groups (p-value > 0.05). There was a statistically significant difference in the quality of life score before and after the intervention in each studied group, (without resection = 0.03 and with resection = 0.001). The quality of life score after the intervention was higher in the sinus endoscopy group without resection than the sinus endoscopy group with resection (36.29 versus 33.04). There was no statistically significant difference in the average score of smell reduction between the two study groups (p-value > 0.05). The two groups had no statistically significant difference in terms of nasal congestion (p-value > 0.05). Our results showed that resection or preservation of the middle turbinate in ESS had no significant effect on the patient's outcomes, although the improvement of quality of life and nasal congestion were better in the resection group. Therefore middle turbinate resection is recommended in ESS without worrying about increasing complications.