Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39305211›Full record

ArticleThe Laryngoscope2025

Does Total Turbinectomy Always Lead to Empty Nose Syndrome? A Computational Virtual Surgery Study.

Ahmad Odeh, Raymond Wen, Zhenxing Wu, Aspen R Schneller, Zachary T Root, Bradley Hittle, Gregory J Wiet, Bradley A Otto, Kathleen M Kelly, Kai Zhao

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in The Laryngoscope, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
  3. Does Total Inferior and Middle Turbinectomy Always Lead to Empty Nose Syndrome?Otolaryngology--head and neck surgery : official journal of American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery · 2026
    Article
  4. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Ahmad OdehDepartment of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, U.S.A.
Raymond WenDepartment of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, U.S.A.
Zhenxing WuDepartment of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, U.S.A.ORCID 0000-0001-7585-4914
Aspen R SchnellerDepartment of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, U.S.A.
Zachary T RootDepartment of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, U.S.A.
Bradley HittleThe Department of Biomedical Informatics, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, Ohio, U.S.A.
Gregory J WietDepartment of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, U.S.A.
Bradley A OttoDepartment of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, U.S.A.
Kathleen M KellyDepartment of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, U.S.A.
Kai ZhaoDepartment of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, U.S.A.ORCID 0000-0003-4805-2689

Funding

Novel mechanisms and therapeutic approaches for nasal obstruction and olfactory lossesR01DC020302 · NIDCD · OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY · PI KAI ZHAO · 2022 to 2026
$2.0M
Endoscopic nasal sinus surgery simulator to optimize treatment outcomeR21DC017530 · NIDCD · OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY · PI ZHAO, KAI · 2019 to 2020
$442k
NIDCD NIH HHS NIH-NIDCD R21 DC017530NIDCD NIH HHS R01 DC020302NIDCD NIH HHS R21 DC017530
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionComputational fluid dynamic (CFD) modeling has previously indicated that distorted nasal airflow patterns may contribute to empty nose syndrome (ENS); however, no data show that aggressive turbinate surgery always leads to ENS. We aim to use virtual surgery planning (VSP) to investigate how a total inferior turbinectomy affects airflow parameters compared with ENS patients.

methodsWe retrospectively recruited six nasal obstruction patients who underwent turbinate reduction surgery. We virtually performed total inferior turbinectomy on these patients to compare CFD modeling results to patients' actual surgical outcomes and to that of a previously collected ENS patient cohort (n = 27).

resultsPatients' actual surgery outcomes were excellent, with Nasal-Obstruction Symptom Evaluation (NOSE) score (pre: 72.5 ± 13.2 vs post-surgery: 10.8 ± 9.8, p < 0.001) and unilateral visual analog scale (VAS) scores of nasal obstruction (pre: 6 ± 2.56 vs post-surgery: 1.2 ± 1, p < 0.001) improved and was statistically significant. The virtual turbinectomy does not create the same distorted nasal airflow patterns as seen in ENS patients, with no statistically significant difference in nasal resistance as compared with post-actual surgery (virtual turbinectomy: 0.10 ± 0.03 Pa/mL*s; actual surgery: 0.12 ± 0.04 Pa/mL*s; ENS: 0.11 ± 0.04, p > 0.05) nor in regional wall shear force distribution, an important indicator of air/mucosa stimulation (inferior turbinate WSF%: virtual 47.3% ± 11.3% vs actual 51.5% ± 15.1%, p > 0.05); however, both are statistically significant higher than that of ENS patients (WSF: 32.2% ± 12.5%, p < 0.001), despite ENS cohort having wider inferior airway cross-sectional area (CSA) than actual surgeries.

conclusionEmpty nose syndrome is likely a multifactorial disease process that cannot be solely attributed to aggressive turbinate reduction surgery. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 3 Laryngoscope, 135:562-569, 2025.

Indexed as

Nasal ObstructionPostoperative ComplicationsSurgery, Computer-AssistedTurbinatesAdultComputer SimulationFemaleHumansHydrodynamicsMaleMiddle AgedRetrospective StudiesSyndromeTreatment OutcomeFESSfunctional endoscopic sinus surgeryturbinate hypertrophyturbinate reduction surgery

Identifiers

PMID39305211
PMCPMC11725719

What OpenQuestion holds

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Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.