Is turbinate reduction necessary with septoplasty? (Photo)

Turbinate reduction is frequently indicated during septoplasty to address "compensatory hypertrophy"  of the turbinate.   This involves enlargement of the turbinate on the opposite side of the septal deviation.   The turbinate enlarges over time to fill in the extra space made by the septal deviation to the opposite side.   This commonly causes as much or more nasal obstruction as the deviated septum itself.   That said,  cautery to the turbinate should be done consevatively to avoid affecting the function of the turbinate,  which is to warm and humidity air on its way through the nose. I most frequently perform submucosal resection without cautery,  along with outfracture of the turbinte bone.    This leaves the overlying mucose unharmed and maintains the function of the turbinate.   Talk to your surgeon... 

A conservative, properly performed turbinate reduction should not result in an ENS situation. These ENS cases are extremely rare and are typically found when one has nasal and sinus surgery combined with radical resection of the inferior and middle turbinates for whatever reason. A well planned and performed inferior nasal turbinate reduction spares your middle turbinates and preserves inferior turbinate mucosa as well, thus avoiding ENS. Generally, the risks for ENS are extremely small. More common risks include bleeding, crusting and rarely chronic rhinitis.  Hope this answer helps.