[The efficacy of radiofrequency ablation technique in patients with inferior turbinate hypertrophy].

OBJECTIVES: The efficacy of the radiofrequency ablation technique was evaluated in patients with nasal airway obstruction due to inferior turbinate hypertrophy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study included 30 patients (20 females, 10 males; mean age 32+/-12 years; range 17 to 18 years) treated with radiofrequency ablation. The patients were evaluated preoperatively and at 3, 7, and 60 days for nasal obstruction, turbinate edema, and other complaints using a visual analog scale (VAS). Nasal ciliary activity was evaluated by the saccharin test at 7 and 60 days, and nasal volume was measured by acoustic rhinometry at 60 days. RESULTS: Postoperative VAS scores of nasal obstruction, nasal itching, crusting, sneezing, rhinolalia, nasal discharge, and post-nasal drip significantly decreased (p<0.05), while hyposmia score remained unchanged. Postoperative pain was trivial and did not require analgesic use. Nasal passage volume increased significantly (p<0.05). Nasal ciliary activity did not change significantly. No significant episodes of epistaxis were observed postoperatively. CONCLUSION: Radiofrequency ablation may be the treatment of choice for turbinate reduction because it is highly effective, minimally invasive with very low complication rates, and can be performed in outpatient clinics without general anesthesia.