Objective: To study the possibility and significance or reservation of the middle turbinate in endoscopic sinus surgery for sinusitis and/or nasal polyps.
Methods: (1) The morphology and mucosal ultrastructure of middle turbinate were observed preoperatively and postoperatively by nasal endoscopy and scanning electron microscopy in 20 cases; (2) The proportions of the septal turbinate formation and the closure of ethmoid sinus cavity were investigated postoperatively by nasal endoscopy in 60 cases with middle turbinate reserved and 60 cases with middle turbinate resected.
Results: (1) The morphology and mucosal ultrastructures of reserved middle turbinate were observed to have recovered postoperatively; (2) The proportions of the septal formation and the closure of ethmoid sinus cavity in the groups with middle turbinates reserved and resected were 13.3%, 18.3% and 58.3%, 51.7%, respectively (P < 0.01).
Conclusion: It is possible that the structure of reserved middle turbinate may return to normal and it is important to save the middle turbinates to improve clinical cure rate.