Radiofrequency bipolar submucosal diathermy of the inferior turbinates

Fifty nonatopic patients with chronic hypertrophic rhinitis and suffering f rom chronic nasal obstruction due to hypertrophied inferior turbinates were subjected to bipolar submucosal diathermy using a radio frequency unit and a bipolar turbinate probe. One year postoperatively, 76% of patients showe d significant improvement of their nasal breathing and another 16% reported partial improvement. The minimal cross sectional has also significantly in creased from 0.58 +/- 0.05 cm(2) to 0.72 +/- 0.04 cm(2) and the decongestiv e effect was statistically significant. Electron microscopic examination of the nasal mucosa at the end of the follow up period revealed intact health y epithelium as well as intense fibrosis of the underlying stroma. The resu lts of the work showed that bipolar submucosal diathermy is a safe, effecti ve outpatient procedure that does not require nasal packing or expensive in strumentation. The procedure can be repeated, if necessary, according to th e patient's needs.