title: No clinical advantages of coblation tonsillectomy compared with traditional tonsillectomy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Tonsillectomy may be performed by several methods. It is continuously being discussed which method is preferable with regard to postoperative haemorrhage, pain, activity and nutrition.
  
  
  METHODS
  The present study is a prospective non-randomized study of tonsillectomy. It included 198 patients aged 14-40 years who either underwent coblation tonsillectomy or traditional "cold" tonsillectomy after random allocation to different surgeons. A total of 51 patients underwent coblation tonsillectomy and 147 patients underwent traditional tonsillectomy. We tested the hypothesis that there is no difference in postoperative pain experience between the two surgical techniques. The patients were followed for nine days postoperatively. They filled in a questionnaire on postoperative pain score, activity level and food intake.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found no statistically significant difference in pain perception between the two groups and there was no difference in their levels of activity. The intraoperative haemorrhage was significantly reduced in the coblation tonsillectomy group, but there was no difference in postoperative haemorrhage between the two groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The overall results of this study suggest that neither coblation tonsillectomy nor traditional tonsillectomy enjoys an advantage over the other in patients aged 14-40 years.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  not relevant.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  not relevant.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Holstebro Hospital, Denmark. lisemoesgaard@dadlnet.dk
authors.forename: Lise
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Moesgaard
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mirz
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016063:Blood Loss, Surgical / Q000517:prevention & control; D004435:Eating; D004598:Electrosurgery / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods / Q000534:rehabilitation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000209:etiology*; D019106:Postoperative Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology*; D011184:Postoperative Period; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000592:standards; D011364:Professional Practice / Q000592:standards; D011897:Random Allocation; D020127:Recovery of Function; D013525:Surgical Instruments / Q000009:adverse effects; D014068:Tonsillectomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods / Q000534:rehabilitation; D016896:Treatment Outcome