Comparison of the outcomes of partial turbinectomy and radiofrequency tissue ablation of inferior turbinates

Abstract

Abstract Aim. One of the major causes of chronic nasal airway obstruction is inferior turbinate hypertrophy. Partial turbinectomy is a classical way of solution; however radiofrequency tissue ablation of inferior turbinates is a realatively new method. Comparison of the nasal function was made after treatment by partial turbinectomy and radiofrequency tissue ablation of the inferior turbinates using subjective symptom scores and objective tests. Methods. 12 of the patients (24 turbinates) with chronic nasal obstruction due to turbinate hypertrophy were treated by radiofrequency tissue ablation (RFTA), another 11 patients (22 turbinates) were treated by partial turbinectomy (PT). Preoperatively and at the postoperative 6th week; acoustic rhinometry, saccharin test, and evaluation of the nasal obstruction complaint by visual analogue scale (VAS) were done. The patients were followed by weekly nasal endoscopy and VAS scores during the postoperative 6 weeks. Results. In both groups postoperative acoustic rhinomety results were significantly higher than preoperative ones (p 0.05). There was not a significant difference between preoperative and postoperative saccharin test results in both groups (p>0.05). When the VAS scores were compared, PT group’s nasal obstruction scores appear to be significantly less than RFTA group’s scores, beginning from the first week (p 0,05). Gorsel analog skala skorlari kiyaslandiginda kismi turbinektomi grubunun burun tikanmasi skorlarinin ilk haftadan baslayarak radyofrekans doku ablasyonu grubunun skorlarindan belirgin olarak az oldugu gorulmektedir (p<0,05). Alti hafta boyunca yapilan endoskopik takip odem ve sekrosyonun radyofrekans doku ablasyonu grubunda, kabuklanmanin ise kismi turbinektomi grubunda belirgin derece daha fazla oldugunu ortaya koymustur (p<0,05). Sonuc. Her iki metodun burun nefes alma problemlerini cozmede ve mukosilyer fonksiyonlari korumada iyi sonuclara sahip oldugu bulunmustur. Yapilan haftalik takiplerle kismi turbinektominin soluma problemlerini radyofrekans doku ablasyonundan daha hizli cozdugu bulunmustur. Anahtar sozcukler: Akustik rinometri, sakkarin testi, konka hipertrofisi, allerjik rinit, burun tikanmasi