Histomorphologic study of nasal turbinates after surgical treatment: A comparison of laser surgery and radiofrequency-induced thermotherapy effects in animals

Abstract

Conclusions. From the clinical point of view, the healing process following radiofrequency-induced thermotherapy (RFITT) is faster and less painful for the patient. This corresponds with the histopathological findings, as in a case of diode laser treatment, the damage to the tissue was greater, and the regenerative and reparative processes were less prominent. Objective. Comparison of histopathologic changes and the healing process in the turbinate tissue regarding the kind of treatment and intensity of energy used for surgery. Materials and methods. Pigs were chosen as laboratory animals for this study. The animals were divided into two groups. Two different techniques were used: treatment with diode laser fiber applied submucosally in contact mode and RFITT. The first tissue samples were taken on the third postoperative day; further sampling was done on the eight postoperative day. Results. Histological features of the specimens taken from turbinates 8 days after the surgery included necrosis and ulceration, fibrin deposition in the mucosa, necrotizing sialometaplasia, as well as proliferation of the granulation tissue. Generally, the changes found in the turbinates treated by diode laser were more severe, with more intensive tissue damage and less prominent regenerative and reparative changes.