Partial inferior turbinectomy in rhinoseptoplasty has no effect in quality-of-life outcomes: A randomized clinical trial.

Objective: Evaluate the impact of endoscopic partial inferior turbinectomy (EPIT) associated with primary rhinoseptoplasty on quality-of-life outcomes (QOL), complications, and surgical duration.

Study Design: Randomized clinical trial.

Methods: Individuals with nasal obstruction aged ≥ 16 years who were candidates for functional and aesthetics primary rhinoseptoplasty were evaluated from March 2014 through May 2015. Eligible participants were randomly allocated to rhinoseptoplasty with or without EPIT (excision of one-third of the inferior turbinates).

Results: Fifty patients were studied. Most were Caucasian and had moderate/severe allergic rhinitis symptoms. Mean age was 36 ( ± 14.5) years. Rhinoseptoplasty was associated with improvement in all QOL scores irrespective of turbinate intervention (P < 0.001). Analysis of covariance was conducted to control for potential confounders. There was no difference between the groups in absolute score changes for Nasal Obstruction Symptom Evaluation-Portuguese (NOSE-p) (-50.5 vs. -47.6; P  = 0.723), Rhinoplasty Outcome Evaluation (ROE) (47 vs. 44.8; P = 0.742), and all World Health Organization Quality of Life Scale-Abbreviated (WHOQOL-bref) score domains (P  > 0.05). There were no differences between the groups regarding presence of the complications. Surgical duration was higher in the EPIT group (212 minutes ± 7.8 vs. 159.1 ± 5.6; P ? 0.001).

Conclusions: Turbinate reduction through EPIT during primary rhinoseptoplasty did not improve short-term general and specific QOL outcomes. The use of EPIT increases surgical time considerably without improving QOL scores. There was no difference in postoperative incidence of complications, suggesting that EPIT is a safe technique.

Level Of Evidence: 1b. Laryngoscope, 128:57-63, 2018.