title: [Clinical effectiveness of coblation-assisted inferior turbinoplasty].
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Shiga University of Medical Science.
authors.forename: Teppei
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tani
authors.forename: Satoshi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Seno
authors.forename: Masakazu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hanamitsu
authors.forename: Takeshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Shimizu
mesh_terms: 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*