Clinical effectiveness of coblation inferior turbinate reduction.
OBJECTIVE
We sought to determine the safety and clinical effectiveness of coblation (short for "cold ablation") inferior turbinate reduction for turbinate hypertrophy.


METHODS
A consecutive series of adult patients with inferior turbinate hypertrophy were treated with the coblation technique in the office setting. Subjective symptoms were assessed prior to treatment and at the 3- and 6-month intervals after treatment with the Rhinosinusitis Symptom Inventory (RSI) and a short nasal symptom questionnaire.


RESULTS
Twenty-four of 26 treated patients completed the protocol. At the 3-month follow-up, statistically significant decreases in the nasal and overall symptom domains of the RSI were noted (changes of -10.5 and -8.7, with P = 0.018 and P = 0.015, respectively). These improvements were also significant at the 6-month follow-up (-20.1 and -15.8 with, P < 0.001 and P < 0.001, respectively). At the 3-month interval, nasal obstruction and amount of time with nasal obstruction were significantly decreased (P = 0.006 and P = 0.011, respectively). These decreases remained statistically significant and slightly larger in magnitude at 6 months (P = 0.001 and P = 0.006, respectively). Postoperative epistaxis occurred in 2 of 24 (8.3%) of patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Coblation inferior turbinate reduction is an effective procedure for inferior turbinate hypertrophy. The clinical benefit persists at 6 months after the procedure.
Bhattacharyya
Neil
N
Division of Otolaryngology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA. neiloy@massmed.org
Kepnes
Lynn J
LJ
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D017115:Catheter Ablation / Q000295:instrumentation*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D006984:Hypertrophy / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014663:Nasal Decongestants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013517:Otorhinolaryngologic Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012220:Rhinitis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014420:Turbinates / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*
D014663:Nasal Decongestants