Radiofrequency Volumetric Tissue Reduction for Treatment of Inferior Turbinate Hypertrophy

Abstract

     Prospective nonrandomized noncontrolled study of efficacy, complication of inferior turbinate hypertrophy treatment with radiofrequency. 120 Patients with nasal obstruction and associated with interior turbinate hypertrophy refractory to decongestant drug treatment for 1 month were treated at both inferior turbinates with radiofrequency and evaluated at 1, 3, 8, 24, 48 weeks. Patient questionares, clinical examination, visual analog scale were used to assess treatment outcomes.

     Result at 8 weeks after treatment, nasal breathing improved in 100 of 120 patients, with 62.79% and 52.27% reduction of severity and frequency of nasal obstruction without severe complication. 10, 15 patients were recurrence at 24 and 48 months after treatment.

     Radiofrequency treatment for inferior turbinate hypertrophy achieves subjective improvement in nasal obstruction with minimal adverse effect, repetability and patient preference.