There were statistical differences between the adult group and the pediatric group in ethmoid bulla hypertrophy and middle nasal concha etherealization.
They found that, in all cases, the nasal passages were too narrow to have respiratory turbinates and instead they more closely resembled those of ectotherms.
The fossil record shows that, in the mid-Cretaceous Period, birds had respiratory turbinates, as you'd expect in animals with a very high metabolism needed for flight.
The conchal cartilage has also been used to correct the depressed nasal bridge while the composite grafts of the skin and cartilage from the pinna are sometimes used for repair of defects of nasal ala in nasal surgery.