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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
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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

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