title: Radiofrequency inferior turbinate reduction: long-term olfactory and functional outcomes.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to assess the long-term effects of radiofrequency inferior turbinate reduction (RITR) on nasal function in patients affected by nasal obstruction secondary to turbinate hypertrophy, focusing attention on increased sense of smell and its persistence after a 2-year follow-up.
  
  
  METHODS
  Case series with planned data collection.
  
  
  METHODS
  ENT division, university hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 40 consecutive patients undergoing RITR for allergic or nonallergic chronic rhinitis with inferior turbinate hypertrophy were included. We planned a series of tests, including the "Sniffin' Sticks" test battery, anterior rhinomanometry, and the nasal Obstruction Symptom Evaluation (NOSE) scale, on the day of the procedure and at the 2-month and 2-year follow-up visits.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 40 patients, 35 completed all the objective and subjective examinations on the day of the procedure and at the 2-month and 2-year follow-up visits. The authors found a significant decrease in nasal resistances from a mean of 1.13 Pa/cm(3)s(-1) preoperatively to a mean of 0.29 Pa/cm(3)s(-1) 2 years postoperatively and improvement in odor threshold, discrimination, and identification scores 2 years postoperatively. The NOSE score diminished significantly 2 years after surgery from a mean of 23.14 to a mean of 4.14 (all P < .01 with the t test for repeated measures).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This long-term evaluation showed that radiofrequency treatment for allergic or nonallergic inferior turbinate hypertrophy appeared to provide improvement in olfaction, decrease nasal resistances, and have subjective benefits, maintained 2 years after the procedure.
authors.affiliation: I ENT Clinic, Head and Neck Department, University of Turin, Turin, Italy.
authors.forename: Massimiliano
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Garzaro
authors.forename: Matteo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pezzoli
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Landolfo
authors.forename: Simona
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Defilippi
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Giordano
authors.forename: Giancarlo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pecorari
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D017115:Catheter Ablation / Q000379:methods*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D006984:Hypertrophy / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D008875:Middle Aged; D015508:Nasal Obstruction / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D020127:Recovery of Function / Q000502:physiology*; D012220:Rhinitis / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology; D025363:Rhinomanometry; D012903:Smell / Q000502:physiology*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014420:Turbinates / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D055815:Young Adult