Transoral submucosal resection of the inferior turbinate: a novel approach to functional rhinoplasty

In the presence of turbinate dysfunction, an inferior turbinectomy for persistent hypertrophy of bone and/or mucosa may be performed. We sought to explore anatomic feasibility of a transoral turbinectomy. After transoral inferior turbinectomy in 12 cadavers, average distances from the external nasal valve to inferior turbinate and from pyriform aperture to inferior turbinate were compared. Average "area of access" was calculated. Preoperative and postoperative nasal length, tip projection, and alar-base width were also compared. Average distance from external nasal valve to inferior turbinate was 32.4 mm. Average distance from aperture to inferior turbinate was 2.4 mm (P < 0.0001). Average "areas of access" to nasal vault through the external nasal valve and mouth were 183.9 mm(2) and 243.6 mm(2) (P = 0.07), respectively. The transoral approach provides a larger "area of access" to the turbinate, a statistically significant reduction of distance to target, no postoperative changes in nasal soft tissue, and easier instrumentation.