Tonsillectomy techniques and pain: a review of randomized controlled trials and call for standardization.
OBJECTIVE
To review the literature comparing operative techniques in tonsillectomy and postoperative pain.


METHODS
Randomized controlled trials comparing operative techniques and pain outcomes over a 10-year period were reviewed.


RESULTS
44 trials met inclusion criteria for analysis. A total of nine different techniques for complete or partial tonsillectomy were compared. There were several studies with contradictory results. Many of the studies were performed under different parameters.


CONCLUSIONS
Future studies comparing tonsillectomy technique and pain outcomes should be conducted using a standard protocol to allow for accurate comparisons between numerous techniques.
Ashbach
Matthew N
MN
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
Ostrower
Samuel T
ST
Parikh
Sanjay R
SR
D006801:Humans; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D014068:Tonsillectomy / Q000379:methods*