Question: I am from the area in Connecticut. I had submucous resection of my inferior turbinates in ’12, as a 27 year old male. Only tissue removed, no bone, anterior to posterior. Since, air flows too quickly, I have dry nasal passages and my nose crusts and bleeds like crazy. It has been the worst decision of my life.
I’m wondering if you gentlemen have seen folks like me, and if you have any experience in implant procedures (alloderm, acell) or PRP application, or if you are interested in exploring regenerative techniques to help those of us with this difficult problem. Many ENTs I have seen post surgery have turned me away.
Answer: I wish I could offer a cure for your problem. We know, that the nose is a filter- and by the time air reaches the back of the nose, the air should be 100% humid and 98.6 degrees. A crucial part of this function is due to the inferior turbinates. These are structures on the side wall of the nasal cavities. At times, though, they can become enlarged and block the airway. When we want to shrink down these structures, we now know that it is important to keep their mucous membrane (outer surface) intact, and just reduce the inside tissue.
If the mucous membranes are lost- either through surgery, infection, or trauma- it is hard to replace effectively. One name for this is the “empty nose syndrome” which manifests as dry nasal passages.
We usually find that moisturizing the nasal cavities with topical ointments at the tip and saline drops- and sometimes a nasal atomizer (mist)- helps the vast majority.
I have not seen any surgical procedure really help- although many have been tried and reported- and we’d be happy to review your options with you personally at the NY Sinus Center.
I hope this clears things up.
Robert Pincus MD
Associate Professor Otolaryngology
Co-Director, NY Sinus Center
Frequently Asked Questions
These symptoms are often caused by the loss of mucous membranes in the inferior turbinates, which are essential for humidifying and warming the air we breathe. When the mucous membrane is damaged or removed during surgery, it can lead to a condition known as empty nose syndrome, resulting in dry nasal passages, crusting, and nosebleeds.
Empty nose syndrome occurs when the mucous membrane of the inferior turbinates is lost due to surgery, infection, or trauma. Since the turbinates are responsible for filtering, humidifying, and warming inhaled air, their impairment causes the air to flow too quickly and dry out the nasal passages, leading to discomfort, crusting, and nosebleeds.
Currently, there is no consistently effective surgical procedure to fully restore the mucous membrane or reverse empty nose syndrome. Although various surgical techniques and regenerative methods like Alloderm or PRP have been explored, none have reliably resolved the symptoms. Management typically focuses on symptom relief rather than surgical correction.
Moisturizing the nasal cavities with topical ointments applied to the nasal tip, saline drops, and using nasal atomizers or mists can significantly alleviate dryness, crusting, and nosebleeds in most patients. These supportive care measures help maintain moisture and comfort in the nasal passages.
While regenerative techniques such as Alloderm implants or platelet-rich plasma (PRP) applications have been attempted, there is limited clinical evidence of their success in treating empty nose syndrome or similar complications. These methods remain experimental, and results have not been consistently positive.
Patients suffering persistent symptoms should consult specialized ENT centers, like the NY Sinus Center, to review their individual case and explore symptom management options. While a cure may not be available, expert evaluation can help optimize treatment strategies and improve quality of life.
