Comparative study between partial inferior turbinectomy and submucosal diathermy for treatment of inferior turbinate hypertrophy due to allergic rhinitis

Abstract

Background: Nasal obstruction due to inferior turbinate hypertrophy is one of the most common symptoms of Allergic rhinitis (AR) which causes significant debility. Surgery is one of the modalities of treatment to relieve patients of nasal obstruction. Objective of the study was to evaluate the efficacy of submucosal diathermy (SMD) and partial inferior turbinectomy (PIT) in the treatment of hypertrophied inferior turbinate. Methods: Sixty patients with allergic rhinitis and hypertrophied inferior turbinates were randomised into two groups with thirty patients each (group I underwent SMD and group II underwent PIT). They were assessed for relief of nasal obstruction by subjective and objective methods. Results: Nasal obstruction due to hypertrophy of inferior turbinate was the main symptom with 45 (75%) patients having severe obstruction and 15 (25%) patients moderate obstruction. Both the surgical procedures were effective in reducing nasal obstruction & other symptoms of AR. Though the total symptom score was significantly reduced by both the methods (p=0.001) SMD was superior in relieving nasal obstruction at 3months follow up while PIT was more effective at 6 months follow up. Conclusions: SMD is an easier, less invasive method with lesser postoperative discomfort and complications as compared to PIT. Our study recommends SMD as an effective technique for relief of nasal obstruction in allergic rhinitis.