INFERIOR NASAL TURBINECTOMY LASER VERSUS RADIOFREQUENCY MANAGEMENT

Abstract

Chronic nasal obstruction is one of the commonest complaints made by patients to their otolaryngologist. Nasal obstruction may be caused by various factors. By far the most common causes of nasal obstruction are nasal septal deviation and turbinate hypertrophy. The main structure contributing to nasal obstruction is the inferior turbinate, which contains most of the nasal erectile tissue. This study was•done to compare laser turbinectomy versus radiofrequency turbinate reduction, so patients suffering of bilateral hypertrophy of the inferior turbinate as a sole pathology were chosen. The subjective sensation of nasal obstruction also confirmed by the objective measurement of nasal resistance to airflow by acoustic rhinometry. This study was done on 20 patients complaining of nasal obstruction, radiofrequency turbinate reduction was done on the right side, while laser turbinectomy was done on the left side. Both laser turbinectomy and radiofrequency turbinate reduction are

efficient methods in management of hypertrophied inferior turbinate but the incidence of complication is higher with laser turbinectomy than radiofrequency turbinate reduction.