Sinus turbinate surgery is a surgical procedure that opens up one or more sinus cavities to facilitate better drainage and improve sinus function. Sinuses are small, air-filled cavities throughout the body lined with mucous membranes. The purpose of these membranes is to catch foreign particles and block them from entering the lungs, therefore protecting our respiratory system from harmful invaders. They do this by secreting mucous into the nose, where it traps bacteria and other foreign material, then moves it over or through our turbinates before draining into the back of our throat.
Endoscopic Sinus Surgery
Other sinus surgeries involve an open approach. This means the surgeon will make a large incision on your skin and remove the bone blocking up your sinuses. This can be done with a traditional scalpel or lasers to vaporize the bone. These surgeries are typically more invasive than endoscopic sinus surgery, so they are not as common because they require more recovery time and have a higher risk of complications.
However, these surgeries might be necessary if you have tumors or very severe polyps in your nose or sinuses. They may also be used if you need to remove large amounts of bony structures or diseased tissue from your nose and sinuses. This type of surgery may even be performed along with an endoscopic procedure for certain complex cases such as fungal infections, cancers in the nose, or other problems that cannot be treated through tiny openings in the nostrils alone.
Reasons for Sinus Surgery
Sinusitis, also known as rhinosinusitis, is the swelling and inflammation of the sinus membrane. The membrane produces mucus that drains your nasal cavity and then back out through the nasal passage. When this causes a blockage in the nasal passage, sinusitis occurs. Symptoms of sinusitis include:
- Congestion.
- Discomfort in the face or forehead.
- Frequent headaches.
- A constant feeling of pressure on one side of your head.
Sinusitis is typically caused by either an infection or an allergic reaction (or both).
To treat these symptoms effectively and reduce your need for further medical intervention, you may want to consider having surgery on your sinuses to eliminate some of their potential for obstruction.
Types of Sinus Surgeries
First off, let me start by saying that I'm a horrible person. If it weren't because of my sinus infection, I'd be a major jerk to you right now.
Now that we've got that out of the way!
Whatever your situation—congested or not—there's no reason you should suffer through your following sinus infection. There are three different types of surgeries you can have done to cure this ailment (or at least make it less severe). These procedures involve various techniques and require various processes. Even if you're not sure which surgery is right for you, do some research on the Internet and see the results people with similar problems seem to be getting. If one of these surgeries presents an appealing option for your needs, consider picking up the phone and making an appointment with your local doctor at once!
Balloon Sinuplasty
Balloon sinuplasty is an intranasal surgery developed in the early '80s to correct deviated nasal septum. It involves taking a small plastic catheter and inflating it into one nostril, then using it to guide the surgeon in opening up the sinus cavities and adjusting the septum. It's relatively painless and may take place under local anesthetic. Recovery typically takes less than two days, depending on how fast you heal after the procedure.
Turbinate Reduction
This procedure is sometimes called a turbinate reduction or tonsillectomy. It's designed to relieve the pressure from a blocked airway by removing one of your adenoids, a tissue that usually grows on your tonsils.
Dr. Hong et al. wrote about the benefits, risks, and complications of turbinate reduction in their article titled: “Sinus surgical procedures and outcomes.” A few key points included in this paper were that there are typically no side effects after the surgery, and it can be done at any age. The article concluded with a few warnings to those considering turbinate removal: “Although no patient has died after undergoing turbinectomy, should not perform these procedures on patients with active bleeding or uncontrolled hypertension.
