Microdebrider-assisted versus radiofrequency-assisted inferior turbinoplasty: a prospective study with objective and subjective outcome measures

In order to relieve the symptoms of nasal obstruction in patients with inferior turbinate hypertrophy, various surgical methods have been used. Aim of this study was to compare post-operative outcome between radiofrequency and microdebrider-assisted partial turbinoplasty. A prospective study was performed in 268 patients with nasal obstruction and hypertrophied turbinate mucosa refractory to medical treatment, from December 2000 to December 2005. Overall, 124 patients were treated with microdebrider (Group 1) and 144 patients with radiofrequency (Group 2). Post-operative changes in the degree of nasal obstruction, nasal discharge, hyposmia and headache were evaluated prospectively on the 7(th) day, 1(st), and 3(rd) months after the procedure. Rhinomanometric evaluation was also performed for objective comparison. Both procedures were perfectly tolerated by the patients. The nasal obstruction scale improved significantly in Group 1 on day 7, and within the periods of 1(st) and 3(rd) months after surgery, while the significant improvement took place in Group 2 only in the 1(st) and 3(rd) months after surgery. The comparison between the two groups showed that symptom improvement was statistically significant in Group 1 on the 7(th) day, 1(st) and 3(rd) months after surgery. Severity of nasal discharge, headache and hyposmia grades improved significantly in the first week after the operation both in the microdebrider and radiofrequency group and persisted during the 1(st) and 3(rd) months after the operation. Since microdebrider can effectively widen the nasal airway, the rhinomanometric measurements of these patients were found to be lower than in the radiofrequency group. Moreover, patient satisfaction in the microdebrider group was higher than that in the radiofrequency group. In conclusion, this study suggests that microdebrider-assisted partial turbinoplasty is more effective and satisfactory in relieving nasal obstruction.