Outcome comparison of submucous resection versus combined submucous diathermy and outfracture for treatment of inferior turbinate hypertrophy

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to compare the outcome of submucous resection and combined submucous diathermy with outfracture technique in treatment of nasal obstruction caused by inferior turbinate hypertrophy.

METHODS

This study is a prospective randomized clinical trial involving 90 patients with hypertrophied inferior turbinate not responding to medical treatment. All patients were selected with equal or near equal mucosal and bony turbinate components using computed tomography (CT) and then randomly allocated into two groups; group A (n = 45): underwent submucous resection in both sides and group B (n = 45): underwent combined submucous diathermy and outfracture in both sides. Subjective (NOSE score) and objective (4-grades endoscopic classification system and PNIF evaluation) measures of nasal airflow were done preoperatively and postoperatively.

RESULTS

Subjective assessment using NOSE scale proved that both techniques were effective in relieving nasal obstruction as it improved in both groups postoperatively compared to the preoperative data. However, resection technique was better than diathermy technique with a statistically significant difference (p < 0.05), while objective assessment of nasal obstruction showed better results in resection group than diathermy group, but with no statistically significant difference.

CONCLUSION

Both techniques are effective in relief of nasal obstruction due to inferior turbinate hypertrophy. However, submucous resection showed marked improvement compared to diathermy technique especially at long-term follow-up.