Microdebrider-Assisted Turbinoplasty and Submucosal Diathermy for Inferior Turbinate Hypertrophy: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Introduction: Nasal obstruction is a common presenting problem that can lead to symptoms like sleep disturbances, mouth breathing, and oral cavity dryness. The hypertrophied inferior turbinate is a common cause of nasal obstruction. The study aimed to compare two surgical techniques in terms of their outcomes assessed by relief of nasal obstruction and post-operative complications. Material and Method: This randomized clinical trial was conducted at the Department of ENT, Benazir Bhutto Hospital, Rawalpindi. One hundred and twenty patients were randomized to undergo either MAT or SMD, with 60 patients within each group. The nasal obstruction symptom evaluation score system (NOSE) was used to assess relief from obstruction. Data was entered and analyzed in SPSS 22. Chi-square and Fisher exact tests were used to assess the difference in the outcome variables. Results: Both the groups were comparable for age and gender. After 3 months of treatment, all 60 (100%) patients in the MAT group and 51 (85%) patients in the SMD group were completely relieved off nasal obstruction. At two weeks follow up 37 (61.57%) patients in the MAT group had grade 0 obstructions compared with 14 (23.33%) in the SMD group and this difference was significant (p-value <0.001). At one month follow up 55 (91.67%) patients in the MAT group while 46 (76.67%) in the SMD group had been completely relieved off nasal obstruction and this difference was found significant (p-value 0.024). Crust formation was the most common complication in both the groups, more with the SMD group at two weeks follow up which responded to treatment by alkaline nasal douches and crust removal. Conclusion: MAT gives better results in terms of nasal obstruction relief and fewer complications than the SMD procedure.