Resolution of symptoms in patients with atrophic rhinitis following partial nasal closure technique

Introduction: Atrophic rhinitis is a chronic nasal disease of unknown etiology, characterized by nasal mucosal atrophy, enlargement of nasal cavity, formation of thick foul smelling, greenish nasal crusts, hyposmia or anosmia. Materials and Methods: This clinical trial conducted between 1996-2005. 30 patients with primary atrophic rhinitis were included in the study. The diagnosis was based on the typical signs of nasal obstruction, enlargement of nasal cavity and greenish nasal crusts in the clinical examination. Patients were treated surgically by a new and simple technique of partial closure of the nasal cavity with the use of intranasal semicircular flap. Degree of patient satisfaction and clinical findings before and after the operation were analyzed statistically. Results: Excellent results were obtained in all patients with complete resolution or improvement of symptoms such as foul nasal crusts smelling, epistaxis, headache, hoarsness and olfaction except for the symptom of nasal obstruction. Conclusion: This simple surgical technique can be performed under local anesthesia with low casts and without any complications such as nasal deformity and flap failure, in contrast to other surgical techniques.