Compensatory Inferior Turbinate Surgery in Septorhinoplasty

NCT07481045 | Completed DMC

• 1 other identifier: AEŞH-BADEK1-2025-327
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 80
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Nasal obstruction is a common complaint among patients undergoing septorhinoplasty. In addition to septal deviation, compensatory inferior turbinate hypertrophy may contribute to impaired nasal airflow. For this reason, some surgeons routinely perform inferior turbinate reduction during septorhinoplasty. However, the necessity and functional benefit of this additional procedure remain controversial. The aim of this randomized controlled study is to evaluate whether compensatory inferior turbinate surgery provides additional functional benefit when performed simultaneously with septorhinoplasty. Patients undergoing septorhinoplasty will be randomly assigned to either septorhinoplasty alone or septorhinoplasty combined with inferior turbinate surgery. Functional outcomes will be assessed using both subjective and objective measures. Subjective nasal obstruction will be evaluated using the Nasal Obstruction Symptom Evaluation (NOSE) scale, and objective nasal airflow will be assessed using peak nasal inspiratory flow (PNIF). Patients will be followed for six months after surgery. The results of this study are expected to clarify the role of compensatory inferior turbinate surgery in patients undergoing septorhinoplasty and provide evidence regarding whether routine turbinate intervention is necessary in this patient population.

Conditions

Nasal Obstruction Septal Deviation Compensatory Inferior Turbinate Hypertrophy

Keywords

Septorhinoplasty, Inferior turbinate hypertrophy, Nasal obstruction, Peak nasal inspiratory flowmeter, NOSE score

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Change in Nasal Obstruction Symptom Evaluation (NOSE) score

  The Nasal Obstruction Symptom Evaluation (NOSE) scale is a validated patient-reported questionnaire used to assess the severity of nasal obstruction. Scores range from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating more severe nasal obstruction.

  Preoperative baseline and 6 months after surgery

Secondary Outcomes (1)

• Change in Peak Nasal Inspiratory Flow (PNIF)

  Preoperative baseline and 6 months after surgery

Study Arms (2)

SRP

EXPERIMENTAL

Patients undergoing standard open functional septorhinoplasty without inferior turbinate intervention.

Procedure: Septorhinoplasty

SRP + CIT Surgery

EXPERIMENTAL

Patients undergoing septorhinoplasty combined with compensatory inferior turbinate surgery.

Procedure: Septorhinoplasty; Procedure: Inferior Turbinate Surgery

Interventions

Septorhinoplasty PROCEDURE

Standard open functional septorhinoplasty was performed under general anesthesia, including septoplasty, dorsal profile alignment with transverse and lateral osteotomies, tipplasty, bilateral spreader graft placement, and columellar strut grafting. Silicone nasal splints were placed bilaterally and removed after 72 hours.

SRP; SRP + CIT Surgery

Inferior Turbinate Surgery PROCEDURE

Inferior turbinate reduction was performed on the non-deviated side using submucosal radiofrequency ablation followed by turbinate lateralization to improve nasal airway patency.

SRP + CIT Surgery

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 53 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• Patients older than 18 years
• Patients presenting with nasal obstruction and aesthetic concerns requiring septorhinoplasty
• Presence of nasal septal deviation confirmed by anterior rhinoscopy, nasal endoscopy, or computed tomography
• Presence of compensatory inferior turbinate hypertrophy in the contralateral nasal cavity
• Patients willing to participate and able to provide informed consent

You may not qualify if:

• Previous nasal, septal, or turbinate surgery
• Chronic rhinosinusitis with or without nasal polyps
• Bilateral inferior turbinate hypertrophy
• Absence of compensatory inferior turbinate hypertrophy
• Patients requiring additional nasal procedures or grafting techniques beyond the standardized surgical protocol
• Incomplete follow-up

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Saglik Bilimleri Universitesi: lead

Study Sites (1)

Etlik City Hospital

Ankara, Ankara, 06010, Turkey (Türkiye)

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Nasal Obstruction

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Nose Diseases; Respiratory Tract Diseases; Airway Obstruction; Respiratory Insufficiency; Respiration Disorders; Otorhinolaryngologic Diseases

Study Officials

• Zülküf Küçüktağ, M.D.

  Saglik Bilimleri Universitesi

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: TRIPLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT, CARE PROVIDER, OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Masking Details: The investigator responsible for postoperative outcome assessment was blinded to the treatment allocation. Surgical procedures were performed by a single surgeon who was aware of the intervention. Participants were not blinded to the type of procedure performed.
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Principal Investigator

Model Details: Participants are randomized in a 1:1 ratio to undergo either septorhinoplasty (SRP) alone or septorhinoplasty combined with compensatory inferior turbinate (CIT) surgery. Functional outcomes are compared between the two parallel groups using both subjective and objective measures during the postoperative follow-up period.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: March 9, 2026
• First Posted: March 18, 2026
• Study Start: January 1, 2023
• Primary Completion: September 1, 2025
• Study Completion: September 1, 2025
• Last Updated: March 18, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-03

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

TU (1)