Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-ndw9j Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-10T08:11:57.270Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Dislocation of the inferior turbinates: a rare complication of nasal surgery, presenting as obstructive sleep apnoea

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 June 2011

V Gupta ,
H Singh ,
M Gupta  and
S Singh
V Gupta*
Affiliation:
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Gian Sagar Medical College and Hospital Ramnagar, Banur, Punjab, India
H Singh
Affiliation:
Hunt Center, Danvers, Massachusetts, USA
M Gupta
Affiliation:
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Gian Sagar Medical College and Hospital Ramnagar, Banur, Punjab, India
S Singh
Affiliation:
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Gian Sagar Medical College and Hospital Ramnagar, Banur, Punjab, India
*
Address for correspondence: Dr Vipan Gupta, 45 Preet Nagar Lower Mall, Patiala, Punjab, India147001 E-mail: drvipan@yahoo.com
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Objective:

We report a very rare complication of nasal surgery: dislocation of the inferior turbinates into the nasopharynx, presenting as sleep apnoea and persistent nasal obstruction.

Case report:

A 56-year-old woman presented with a history of obstructive sleep apnoea for one year and nasal obstruction for seven years. She had undergone nasal surgery one year previously. Non-contrast computed tomography of the nose and paranasal sinuses showed a mass near the posterior choana on both sides, confirmed by nasal endoscopy. The displaced turbinates were removed, after resecting their attachment at the posterior choanae, and the patient's symptoms were relieved.

Conclusion:

This is a very rare complication of nasal surgery; to the best of our knowledge, we report only the second published case in the English language literature. We suggest that such cases be closely followed up post-operatively.

Keywords

ComplicationsTurbinatesSleep Apnoea, ObstructiveSurgical Procedures, Operative
Type
Clinical Records
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 125 , Issue 8 , August 2011 , pp. 859 - 860
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 2011

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1Iqbal, FR, Gendeh, BS. Empty nose syndrome post radical turbinate surgery. Med J Malaysia 2007;62:341–2Google Scholar
2Sulsenti, G, Palma, E. Tailored nasal surgery for normalization of nasal resistance. Facial Plast Surg 1996;12:333–45Google Scholar
3Protasevich, GS, Iashan, IA, Iashan, AI. Adenoids in adults [in Russion]. Vestn Otorinolaringol 1999;5:11–13Google Scholar
4Berry, S, Tay, H. An unusual cause of nasal obstruction: a hair clip in the nasopharynx. Ear Nose Throat J 2006;85:210Google Scholar
5Oluwole, M, Mills, RP. An audit of the early complications of turbinectomy. Ann R Coll Surg Engl 1994;76:339–41Google Scholar
6Carrie, S, Wright, RG, Jones, AS. Long-term results of trimming of the inferior turbinates. Clin Otolaryngol Allied Sci 1996;21:139–41Google Scholar
7Young, T, Finn, L, Kim, H. Nasal obstruction as a risk factor for sleep disordered breathing. J Allergy Clin Immunol 1997;99:757–62Google Scholar
8Friedman, M, Tanyeri, H, Lim, JW. Effect of improved nasal breathing on obstructive sleep apnoea. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2000;122:71–4Google Scholar
9Dost, P, Armbruster, W. Nasal turbinate dislocation caused by nasotracheal intubation. Acta Anaesthesiol Scand 1997;41:795–6Google Scholar
10Kuo, MJ, Reid, AP, Smith, JE. Unilateral nasal obstruction: an unusual presentation of a complication of nasotracheal intubation. J Laryngol Otol 1994;108:991–2Google Scholar
11Khalil, HS, Naraghi, AH. Dislocation of the turbinate: a rare complication of middle turbinate surgery. Ear Nose Throat J 2007;86:348–50Google Scholar