What is bilateral inferior turbinate?
Functionally, the most important turbinates are the inferior, or lower, turbinates. They are bilaterally located on either side of the nasal septum and they are made of spongy and curly bones. Mucous membranes (epithelia) cover them and provide initial immunological help to the lymphatic system.
What is an inferior turbinate?
The inferior nasal turbinate is an important structure located in the nasal cavity. Often described as a “finger-like projection”, the inferior nasal turbinate extends from deep inside the nose towards the anterior (front) nasal cavity.
How do you treat inferior turbinates?
Depending on the specific cause of the turbinate hypertrophy, possible medications include:
- Nasal saline sprays or rinses.
- Nasal antihistamine sprays.
- Nasal steroid sprays.
- Allergy immunotherapy.
What causes inferior turbinate swelling?
The inferior nasal turbinates are the largest and located lowest in the nose. They are also the most likely to become enlarged. This condition is called inferior turbinate hypertrophy. A turbinate becomes enlarged when the mucosa gets inflamed due to rhinitis or chronic sinusitis.
Can you remove turbinates?
Surgical removal of underlying bone or tissue surrounding the turbinates is usually reserved for more serious cases of turbinate enlargement. It’s often done during a septoplasty. A septoplasty also involves cutting into the nasal cavity to correct a deviated septum.
Is turbinate surgery painful?
The surgery may be done through a lighted camera (endoscope) that is placed into the nose. You may have general anesthesia or local anesthesia with sedation, so you are asleep and pain-free during surgery.
What do your turbinates do?
The turbinates help to warm and moisturize air as it flows through your nose. There are three turbinates in each nostril (inferior, middle, and superior), but it is the inferior turbinates that most commonly affect airflow. When the bone or soft tissue becomes enlarged, they cause nasal obstruction.
Can you live with swollen turbinates?
In most cases, the turbinates will return to their normal size after recovery. However, in some instances such as chronic sinusitis, the enlargement may be permanent.
How long do turbinates take to heal?
This procedure is minimally invasive and may be performed in the doctors office using local anesthesia. If the turbinate regenerates, this relatively simple procedure may be repeated at a later date. It may take up to 2 months to heal completely after any of the turbinate reduction procedures.
What do the turbinates in your nose do?
How do I stop my turbinates from swelling?
If your turbinates are swollen, your doctor may prescribe medication (e.g., nasal corticosteroid and nasal antihistamine sprays) to reduce the swelling. If enlarged inferior turbinates are causing your nasal obstruction, surgery may be the recommended treatment.
How long does it take to recover from turbinate surgery?
In about three weeks, the new scar tissue in your nose should be completely healed. For the more invasive type of turbinate reduction surgery, recovery takes three to six months. For up to a week after surgery, you may need to pack your nostrils with gauze to keep tissues in place.
What is the function of the inferior turbinates?
Inferior turbinates (lower) Functionally, the most important turbinates are the inferior, or lower, turbinates. They are bilaterally located on either side of the nasal septum and they are made of spongy and curly bones. Mucous membranes (epithelia) cover them and provide initial immunological help to the lymphatic system.
What are the turbinates of the nose?
Functionally, the most important turbinates are the inferior, or lower, turbinates. They are bilaterally located on either side of the nasal septum and they are made of spongy and curly bones.
What causes inferior turbinate hypertrophy?
The inferior turbinate tissue is composed of rich groups of blood vessels, and can become swollen due to a variety of factors including allergies, colds and upper respiratory infections, inflammation, from exposure to certain medications, pregnancy, or for unknown reasons. What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Turbinate Hypertrophy?
What is a partial inferior turbinectomy?
This involves removing a portion of bone of the inferior turbinates to promote airflow in the nose. Partial inferior turbinectomy (PIT). This procedure involves removing soft tissue of the inferior turbinate. Submucosal diathermy (SMD).