BACKGROUND Nasal obstruction is the common symptom encountered by the Otorhinolaryngologist, which disturbs the quality of life of the patient. The anterior end of the inferior turbinate is the narrowest part of the nasal cavity. Hypertrophy of the inferior turbinate cause significant nasal obstruction. Surgery is the treatment of choice in hypertrophic inferior turbinate refractory to medi cal treatment. (1) There are a variety of surgical procedures for reduction of inferior turbinate hypertrophy, some of these are done targeting soft tissues of the turbinate, whereas others resects bony concha. In this prospective study, a comparison was made among the results of Partial Inferior Turbinectomy (PIT), Submucosal Diathermy (SMD) and Inferior Turbinate Bone Resection (ITBR) in patients with chronic nasal obstruction due to inferior turbinate hypertrophy, not responding to medical treatments. The cases were randomly divided into partial inferior turbinectomy group, submucosal diathermy group and inferior turbinate bone resection group. The study comprised of 114 patients divided into three groups, each of 38 patients. Patients were evaluated postoperatively at 1 st week, 1, 3 and 6 months and compared. Nasal obstruction, post-operative pain, intra-operative bleeding and crusting were the parameters recorded. The standard 4-point scale was used for bleeding and crusting. Rest of symptoms were assessed subjectively on visual analogue scale (0 -10); statistical analysis was done by student's 't' test.
MATERIALS AND METHODSThe present prospective, randomised study was carried out at Pushpagiri Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre, Thiruvalla. The study comprised of 114 patients and they were randomly divided into 3 groups, viz. Partial Inferior Turbinectomy group (PIT), Submucosal Diathermy group (SMD) and Inferior Turbinate Bone Resection group (ITBR). There were 50 females and 64 males. Their age ranges from 18 to 50 years, and those associated with septal deviation and polyposis were excluded from this study. All of them were subjected to surgery under general anaesthesia. Patients were evaluated post-operatively at first week, 1, 3 and 6 months and compared for nasal obstruction, post-operative pain, intra-operative bleeding and crusting. Rest of the symptoms were assessed subjectively on visual analogue scale (0 -10). Statistical analysis was done by student's 't' test.
RESULTS100% improvement of nasal obstruction was recorded in inferior turbinate bone resection group, 92.11% in partial inferior turbinectomy group and 86.85% in submucosal diathermy group in our study.
CONCLUSIONInferior turbinate bone resection is superior among the three mentioned groups in relieving nasal obstruction and in improvement of quality of life in the present study. Financial or Other, Competing Interest: None. Submission 07-02-2017, Peer Review 04-03-2017, Acceptance 11-03-2017, Published 20-03-2017. Corresponding Author: Dr. N. Gopinathan Pillai, Associate Professor, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, P...