The Comparison of Outcomes of Partial Turbinectomy Versus Mucosal Diathermy in Patients with Inferior Turbinate Hypertrophy
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.37762/jgmds.13-3.852Keywords:
Submucosa Diathermy, Partial Turbinectomy, Nasal ObstructionAbstract
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES
To compare the outcomes of partial turbinectomy versus mucosal diathermy in patients with inferior turbinate hypertrophy.
METHODOLOGY
The ENT Department at Sheik Zayed Hospital, Lahore, conducted this single-center, non-randomized, controlled study. Sixty adults aged 18-60 years with clinically and radiologically confirmed inferior turbinate hypertrophy were selected and sequentially assigned to two equal groups upon screening and informed consent. Group A had partial inferior turbinectomy (PIT), whereas Group B had submucosal diathermy (SMD). Comparison of the groups with the baselines was conducted. Variability in operators was minimized using a standardized operative protocol. The pain after the operation was measured using a 10-point Visual Analog Scale (VAS), nasal obstruction was measured on a 0-3 scale, nasal crusting was graded using the Lund and Kennedy system, and endoscopic assessment assessed tissue healing. The three-month follow-up was made.
RESULTS
There was similarity between groups in baseline demographic and clinical variables. Mean postoperative pain was significantly lower in the SMD group than in the PIT group on day 1 (mean difference 2.67; 95% CI 2.14-3.20; Cohen's d=2.61; p=0.0001) and at one month (mean difference 1.83; 95% CI 1.43-2.23; Cohen's d=2.36; p=0.0001). Nasal obstruction, crusting, and bleeding outcomes in the nasal passages were numerically predisposed to SMD, although a majority of between-group comparisons were non-significant. The SMD group exhibited a statistically significantly higher (0.003) good tissue healing at three months (76.67%) compared with the PIT group (33.33%).
CONCLUSION
SMD, in this non-randomized study, was associated with less postoperative pain and faster tissue healing at 3 months compared to PIT. Other clinical outcomes showed positive trends in SMD but should be used with caution due to small sample sizes, non-random subject allocation, and limited follow-up.
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