title: Seeking an innocent method for pediatric septoplasty: in vivo comparison of Cottle's method, radiofrequency and laser in rabbits.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In this study, in vivo histopathological and radiological findings in rabbit septum through laser, radiofrequency (RF) and Cottle's method were investigated.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study was conducted between November 2007 and February 2008 on 36 New Zealand rabbits aged four-to-six months and weighing 1.5 to 2 kg. Subjects were divided into six equal groups. The first group was defined as the control group. Next four groups consisted of subjects where RF or laser was either applied transmucosal or directly to the cartilage. Cottle's method was used in the sixth group. Histopathological and radiological changes were investigated in each group.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Histopathological changes in mucosa were not significantly different from those of control group. However, post-intervention changes in cartilage were significantly different, compared to the control group. The highest mucosal and submucosal reaction and damage in cartilage with ossification was found in Cottle group. It was found that radiofrequency was less damaging to mucosa, creating an equal degree of degeneration as laser in cartilage.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Study results suggest that Cottle method is not so innocent with a considerable reaction rate, whereas RF and laser do not cause irreparable damage in cartilage and surrounding tissues. Radiofrequency seems superior to laser, as it causes more degeneration in cartilage, but no loss in epithelium even transmucosally. The major problem is the unpredictability of the damage.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, İzmir Tepecik Training and Research Hospital, İzmir, Turkey. cukurova57@gmail.com
authors.forename: Ibrahim
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Cukurova
authors.forename: Hüseyin
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kırşen
authors.forename: Gül Caner
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Mercan
authors.forename: Murat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gümüşsoy
authors.forename: Yücel
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Karaman
authors.forename: Umit
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Bayol
authors.forename: Tuna
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Imamoğlu
authors.forename: Duygu
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Uzel
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002356:Cartilage / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D007249:Inflammation / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D053685:Laser Therapy / Q000592:standards*; D009297:Nasal Mucosa / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D009300:Nasal Septum / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000601:surgery*; D061208:Pulsed Radiofrequency Treatment / Q000592:standards*; D011817:Rabbits