Comparative Study on the Long-Term Effectiveness between Coblator- and Microdebrider-Assisted Partial Turbinoplasty

Lee, Jae Yong; Lee, Seung Won; Shin, Jae Min; Kim, Hyo Jin; Kim, Ki Hyun; Byun, Jang Yul; Cho, Sung Hoon

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Various surgical methods have been tried to relieve the symptoms of nasal obstruction in patients with inferior turbinate hypertrophy. Recently, coblators that use radiofrequency and microdebriders are increasingly used in turbinate surgery. The aim of this study was to compare the long-term postoperative outcome between the coblator-assisted and microdebrider-assisted partial turbinoplasty.
SUBJECTS AND METHOD
We selected 60 patients who had nasal obstruction and hypertrophied turbinate mucosa that was refractory to medical treatment. Thirty patients were treated with coblator (group 1) and 30 patients were treated with microdebrider (group 2). Postoperative changes in degree of nasal obstruction were evaluated prospectively at 3, 6 and 12 months after the procedure. Cross-sectional area of second notch and volume of nasal cavity were compared at 12 months after operation. Operation time, duration of crust formation, postnasal drip and postoperative bleeding were also compared.
RESULTS
Nasal obstruction was improved significantly in both groups. However, statistical significance of improvement and rate of patient's satisfaction at 12 months after surgery was higher in group 2. There were no significant differences in the degree of postnasal drip, operation time and duration of crust formation between two groups.
CONCLUSION
This study suggests that microdebrider-assisted partial turbinoplasty is more effective and satisfactory in long-term relief of nasal obstruction and reduction of mucosal volume in the anterior head of inferior turbinate.