What is "empty nose syndrome"

n. The condition where the nose has been physiologically crippled, typically by excessive surgical removal of turbinates (mainly the inferior turbinates) in a turbinectomy or conchotomy.

Empty nose syndrome (ENS) is a rare clinical syndrome in which people who have clear nasal passages experience a range of symptoms, most commonly feelings of nasal obstruction, nasal dryness and crusting, and a sensation of being unable to breathe. People who experience ENS have usually undergone a turbinectomy (removal or reduction of turbinates, structures inside the nose) or other surgical procedures that interfere with turbinates; the overall incidence is unknown but it appears to occur in a small percentage of those who undergo nasosinal procedures. It appears to be a health care caused condition but its existence as a medical condition, cause, diagnosis and management are controversial. No one disputes that people with the symptoms suffer a great deal.