COMPARISON OF NASAL PATENCY AFTER INFERIOR TURBINATE SURGERY WITH MICRODEBRIDER AND TURBINECTOMY SCISSORS

Abstract

Objective: To compare the frequency of improvement of nasal patency following inferior turbinate surgery with microdebrider and turbinectomy scissors.

Study Design: Randomized controlled trial.

Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted at ear, nose, throat (ENT) Department of Combined Military Hospital (CMH) Peshawar from Sep 2013 to Feb 2014.

Material and Methods: A total of 120 patients diagnosed as inferior turbinate hypertrophy with severe nasal obstruction (visual analogue scale >8) were endorsed in the study out of 157 patients who reported with the same illness. Rest (37) were excluded due to coagulation disorders (14), previous surgeries (12), and refusal to participate in the study group (11). Out of 120 patients, 60 patients underwent inferior turbinate surgery with micro-debrider (group A) and 60 underwent inferior turbinectomy by using turbinectomy scissors (group B). The randomization was done with the help of random number tables. Nasal patency was documented 3 weeks after the surgery according to visual analogue score. Observer and the patient did not know the type of surgery performed. The data procured regarding improvement in nasal patency was entered in a specially designed proforma.

Results: In our study results supported our hypothesis in proving that post-operative nasal patency is better following inferior turbinate surgery with microdebrider as compared to inferior turbinectomy with scissors. The p-value of significance was 0.001.

Conclusion: Microdebrider assisted inferior turbinate surgery should be considered surgery of choice in managing inferior turbinate hypertrophy. It is effective in improving nasal patency with minimum side effects.