A comparison of symptoms and quality of life between medial flap and coblation turbinator of inferior turbinate reduction in endoscopic septoturbinoplasty: an analysis of 108 cases

Abstract

Introduction: The combination of septoplasty and turbinoplasty is a common surgical and accepted intervention to correct the nasal obstruction. The coblation submucosal reduction turbinator is a new surgical device, and it started to be used recently. On the other hand, the medial flap inferior turbinoplasty is not a conservative technique, but it provides a reliable and robust reduction. Objective: This study aims to compare the symptoms as well as health-related quality of life (HQOL) in 55 patients who underwent septoplasty with concomitent medial flap inferior turbinoplasty (group 1), 53 patients who patients underwent septoplasty with concomitent coblation turbinator (group 2). Patients and methods: The authors performed a prospective, randomized study of 108 patients who consulted the otorhinolaryngology department at the university hospital for surgery of septoturbinoplasty. Results: Preoperatively, the two patient groups had quite similar symptoms and health-related quality of life, and the anterior width of the inferior turbinate showed significant differences between the contralateral and deviated sides but not the posterior part. The significant difference (P<0.05) was noted for postoperatively improved symptom scores on visual analogue scale (VAS), nasal obstruction septoplasty effectiveness (NOSE) and better HQOL [Sino-Nasal Outcome Test-22 (SNOT-22)] in all patient groups. In addition, the NOSE and SNOT-22 scores in group 2 had significantly greater improvement than group 1 (P<0.05). Conclusions: Septoturbinoplasty treatment of septum deviation and inferior turbinate hypertrophy led to less symptoms as well as better HQOL for all two patient groups. Therefore, these techniques were an effective intervention for turbinate reduction, and they are equally efficient in the long term.