Comparison of the efficacy and adverse effects of bipolar radiofrequency turbinate reduction with and without lateral outfracture in the treatment of inferior turbinate hypertrophy : a randomized controlled trial

Abstract

Objective: To compare efficacy and adverse effects between bipolar radiofrequency turbinate reduction with lateral outfracture (BRTR with LO) and bipolar radiofrequency turbinate reduction alone (BRTR alone) in chronic rhinitis patients with inferior turbinate hypertrophy. Study design: Randomized controlled trial Setting: Department of Otolaryngology, King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital Research methodology: Fifty participants were enrolled. Intervention was randomized and performed by BRTR with LO or BRTR alone. Nasal obstruction symptom on postoperative week 8, total nasal volume on postoperative week 8 and adverse effects were compared. Results: Medians (IQR) of the nasal obstruction symptom on week 8 in BRTR with LO and BRTR alone groups were 1.40 (0.35-2.55) and 0.70 (0.05-1.70), respectively. The difference did not have statistical significance (p = 0.100). Means ± SD of the nasal volume on postoperative week 8 in BRTR with LO and BRTR alone groups were 9.97 ± 1.84 and 10.11 ± 2.24, respectively. The difference did not have statistical significance (p = 0.822), Medians (IQR) of the intraoperative pain in BRTR with LO and BRTR alone groups were 2.30 (0.50-4.90) and 0.90 (0.15-6.25), respectively. The difference did not have statistical significance (p = 0.600), Medians (IQR) of the postoperative pain day 1 in BRTR with LO and BRTR alone groups were 0.60 (0.30-2.95) and 0.50 (0.15-2.95), respectively. The difference did not have statistical significance (p = 0.669), Proportions (%) of none/mild/moderate/severe postoperative bleeding in BRTR with LO and BRTR alone groups were = 4/64/28/4 and 20/64/16/0, respectively. The difference did not have statistical significance (p = 0.214). Conclusion: No statistically significant differences of the efficacy and adverse effects were found between bipolar radiofrequency turbinate reduction with lateral outfracture and bipolar radiofrequency turbinate reduction alone in chronic rhinitis patients with inferior turbinate hypertrophy.