title: The potential role of hyaluronic acid in postoperative radiofrequency surgery for chronic inferior turbinate hypertrophy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We prospectively evaluated the efficacy of hyaluronic acid (HA) as an adjuvant treatment to hasten the improvement of nasal respiration and to minimize patients' discomfort in the postoperative radiofrequency volumetric tissue reduction (RFVTR) of inferior turbinates.
  
  
  METHODS
  We enrolled 57 patients randomly assigned into two groups, HA (22 patients) and saline group (35 patients), which received isotonic saline nasal irrigation. We used the monopolar device somnoplasty for all patients. Visual analogic scale (VAS) and nasal endoscopy were used to assess the outcomes of the treatments during the 1st month of follow-up.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean VAS score of the HA group at the 1st week was significantly lower than the control group (3.36 ± 1.89 versus 6.95 ± 1.52; p < 0.05). The VAS score remained significantly lower in the HA group also at the 2nd week (3.43 ± 1.27 versus 5.75±1.39; p < 0.05), becoming similar to the control group at the 4th week (p = ns). Since the first visit the HA group also showed significantly lower crust score than the saline group (p < 0.05), and there was no crust found in either group at the last visit. The compliance to treatment was similar in both groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of this prospective study suggest a role of HA as a supportive treatment for faster improvement of nasal respiration, also minimizing patients' discomfort in postoperative nasal surgery, promoting nasal mucosa healing in postoperative RFVTR for inferior turbinate hypertrophy.
authors.forename: Manuele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Casale
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology University Campus Bio-Medico, Rome, Italy. m.casale@unicampus.it
authors.forename: Casale
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Manuele
authors.forename: Giacomo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ciglia
authors.forename: Ciglia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Giacomo
authors.forename: Valeria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Frari
authors.forename: Frari
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Valeria
authors.forename: Antonino
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Incammisa
authors.forename: Incammisa
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Antonino
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mazzola
authors.forename: Mazzola
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Francesco
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Baptista
authors.forename: Baptista
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Peter
authors.forename: Ranko
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mladina
authors.forename: Mladina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ranko
authors.forename: Fabrizio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Salvinelli
authors.forename: Salvinelli
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fabrizio
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D017115:Catheter Ablation / Q000379:methods; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006984:Hypertrophy / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D055556:Nasal Lavage; D015508:Nasal Obstruction / Q000601:surgery*; D011184:Postoperative Period; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012965:Sodium Chloride / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014420:Turbinates / Q000601:surgery*
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D012965:Sodium Chloride; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid