Zeitschrift für Otologie und Rhinologie

Does the Method of Inferior Turbinate Surgery Affect the Development of Empty Nose Syndrome?

Steven M. Houser

Does the Method of Inferior Turbinate Surgery Affect the Development of Empty Nose Syndrome?

Empty Nose Syndrome (ENS) is a poorly understood iatrogenic syndrome that may follow surgery involving turbinate reduction. In the author’s experience, procedures which spare the mucosa are less likely to create ENS. Mucosal damage, rather than the sheer volume of tissue loss, appears to be of critical importance in ENS. Turbinate reduction is often appropriate therapy, but conservative mucosal sparing techniques should be employed.