[Clinical effectiveness of coblation-assisted inferior turbinoplasty].
BACKGROUND
Laser-assisted inferior turbinoplasty has become accepted as a common treatment for patients displaying allergic rhinitis with severe nasal obstruction. Coblation-assisted inferior turbinoplasty has recently been reported. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of coblation-assisted inferior turbinoplasty, compared with laser surgery.


METHODS
Between November 2004 and May 2007, a total of 29 patients were treated with coblation-assisted inferior turbinoplasty. We evaluated symptom scores at 1 month, 1 year and 2 years after surgery, compared with the results of Nd: YAG laser surgery.


RESULTS
At 1 month after surgery, improvement rates of symptom scores were good and similar between coblation- and laser-assisted surgery. At 1 year after surgery, improvement rates of laser surgery had significantly decreased. However, improvement rates of coblation surgery had not changed at 1 and 2 years (sneeze, 64%; nasal discharge, 71%; nasal obstruction, 79%) after surgery.


CONCLUSIONS
Coblation-assisted inferior turbinoplasty appears effective for the treatment of patients with allergic rhinitis and nasal obstruction.
Tani
Teppei
T
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Shiga University of Medical Science.
Seno
Satoshi
S
Hanamitsu
Masakazu
M
Shimizu
Takeshi
T
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D004564:Electrocoagulation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D053685:Laser Therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009297:Nasal Mucosa / Q000601:surgery; D014420:Turbinates / Q000601:surgery*