Managing turbinate hypertrophy: coblation vs. radiofrequency treatment

Abstract

The role of inferior turbinate hypertrophy in the reduction of nasal airflow is well established. Although chronic nasal obstruction is not life- threatening, it significantly impairs patients' quality of life, affecting many aspects of daily activities; therefore, patients seek medical intervention. 40 patients were selected (27 males and 13 females) between 27 and 64 years of age with a symptom of nasal obstruction. The patients were divided in two groups: Group 1: coblation, 25 patients (18 males and 7 females); Group 2: radiofrequency, 15 patients (7 males and 6 females). These 40 patients were followed for 3 years. Patients were analyzed using both subjective and objective methods. The visual analog scale (VAS) subjective data and objective data including both active anterior rhinomanometry and acoustic rhinometry were recorded and analyzed. Data were collected pre-operatively and at 1 and 3 years post-operatively. According to our data, both coblation and radiofrequency turbinate reduction benefit patients with good results. The complications, found during the follow-up, are limited to minimal bleeding and crusting. Coblation and radiofrequency were significantly less painful than others procedures during the early post-operative period. In our study, both coblation and radiofrequency provide an improvement in nasal airflow with a reduction in nasal obstructive symptoms in the short term, but their efficacy tended to decrease within 3 years.

Surgical Interventions for Inferior Turbinate Hypertrophy: A Comprehensive Review of Current Techniques and Technologies

“…Plain saline is initially injected in the turbinate before its activation and insertion. Passali et al [31] performed a coblation intraturbinoplasty by using the Coblator II surgery system and a Reflex Ultra 45 wand set at power level four. After activation, the tip of the wand was introduced at the anterior part of the inferior turbinate to create a horizontal channel from anterior to posterior.…”

Position Paper on Nasal Obstruction: Evaluation and Treatment

“…Numerous turbinoplasty procedures have been described [191,192]. For many years, intramucosal volume has been reduced using techniques such as radiofrequency [193][194][195][196][197][198], ultrasound [199], cryosurgery [198] and laser vaporization [200,201]. These techniques are well tolerated, can be performed without general anesthesia, have few complications, and are widely used, although their effectiveness tends to decrease over time [202].…”

Ergebnisse der Nasenmuschelverkleinerung bei alten und sehr alten Patienten mit chronischer Rhinitis

“…Die Wirksamkeit dieses Verfahrens ist erwiesen, und es führt unabhängig von der gewählten Methode zu guten Ergebnissen. Dabei stehen folgende Therapieoptionen zur Verfügung: die einfache oder submuköse Ablation der Schleimhaut der unteren Nasenmuscheln, Teilentfernung der unteren Nasenmuscheln mittels Laser, Radiofrequenz, Coblation ® , Ultraschalltechnik sowie die mono-oder bipolare Elektrokauterisierung [8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15]. In letzter Zeit hat die Muschelplastik mittels Mikrodebrider an Bedeutung gewonnen [16,17].…”