THE INFLUENCE OF RADIO FREQUENCY ON THE HYPERTROPHY OF INFERIOR TURBINATE

Abstract

Purpose
Inferior turbinate hypertrophy is one of the major causes of nasal airway obstruction. Controversy still exists which is the most appropriate method for reduction of the inferior turbinate. The goal of this study was to evaluate the effect of radiofrequency thermal ablation (RFA) on nasal obstruction caused by inferior turbinate hypertrophy.
Methods
The diagnosis of inferior turbinate hypertrophy was based on observations and findings of anterior rhinoscopy and nasal endoscopy before and after decongestion. The effect of RF application on nasal resistance was measured rhinomanometrically and symptoms of nasal obstruction were evaluated by visual analog scale (VAS) before and after (8 weeks) applied treatment. Results were analysed statistically.
Results
The study was accomplished at Otolaryngology department of Dicle University in the period between February 2006 and January 2011. Radiofrequency turbinate reduction was performed on 30 female and 32 male patients with inferior turbinate hypertrophy. The mean age was 28.2±5.83 for former group, and it was 29.4±6.45 for later one. Most of the patients reported good improvement in nasal breathing which was improving further with time. There were no reports of turbinate necrosis, atrophy or epistaxis. The nasal passage resistance and symptoms of nasal obstruction decreased comparing preoperatively and postoperatively periods. The differences were statistically significant (p<0.001).
Conclusion
The RFA effectively decrease subjective and objective symptoms of inferior turbinate hypertrophy. It appears to be a safe, reliable, easily applicable minimally invasive procedure with minor risk of side effects.