Inferior turbinectomy versus submucosal diathermy for inferior turbinate hypertrophy

In order to compare and evaluate bilateral inferior turbinectomy (BIT) and submucosal diathermy (SMD), we retrospectively examined these two well-know n techniques for treatment of nasal obstruction due to bilateral congestion of the inferior turbinates. One hundred patients with bilateral nasal obst ruction were divided into 4 groups according to their nasal airflow patency . Forty-nine patients underwent BIT, and 51 patients underwent SMD. All 100 patients were followed for 2 months after surgery. Patients with difficult postoperative courses were followed up to 1 year after surgery, in order t o decide on the necessity of operative revision. Postoperative improvement in nasal breathing after BIT was reported for 96% of patients 2 weeks after surgery, and for 88% 2 months after surgery. Only 1 BIT patient had to und ergo revision operation. Diathermy showed good results in 78% of cases 2 we eks after surgery. The efficacy of the procedure was reduced to 76% 2 month s after surgery. Twenty percent of SMD patients were advised to undergo ope rative revision. Postoperative bleeding occurred in 20% of BIT patients and in only 4% of SMD patients. We found that the extent of postoperative impr ovement does not depend on preoperative conditions; therefore, it is imposs ible to predict the extent of postoperative improvement on the basis of the results of preoperative assessment. Both procedures can be performed under local anesthesia, are relatively safe and effective, and do not need expen sive instrumentation that may not be available in many medical centers.