title: Learning curve of septoplasty with radiofrequency volume reduction of the inferior turbinate.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Since few studies on surgical training and learning curves have been performed, majority of inexperienced surgeons are anxious about performing operations. We aimed to access the results and learning curve of septoplasty with radiofrequency volume reduction (RFVR) of the inferior turbinate.
  
  
  METHODS
  We included 270 patients who underwent septoplasty with RFVR of the inferior turbinate by 6 inexperienced surgeons between January 2009 and July 2011. We analyzed success score, cases of revision, cases of complication, operation time, and acoustic rhinometry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Success score was relatively high and every surgeon had few cases of revision and complication. No significant difference was found in success score, revision, complication case, or acoustic rhinometry values between early cases and later cases. Operation time decreased according to increase in experience. However, there was no significant difference in the operation time after more than 30 cases.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We can conclude that 30 cases are needed to develop mature surgical skills for septoplasty with RFVR of the inferior turbinate and that training surgeons do not need to be anxious about performing this operation in the unskilled state.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Kyungpook National University School of Medicine, Daegu, Korea.
authors.forename: Sung Jae
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Heo
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Kyungpook National University School of Medicine, Daegu, Korea.
authors.forename: Chang Mook
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Kyungpook National University School of Medicine, Daegu, Korea.
authors.forename: Jung Soo
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Kim
keywords: Nasal Concha; Nasal septum; Operative procedure; Surgery