title: Assessment of inferior turbinate radiofrequency treatment: Monopolar versus bipolar.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study is to compare the early results of monopolar (MP) and bipolar (BP) radiofrequency (RF) used in inferior turbinate hypertrophy treatment concerning aspects of patient and surgeon comfort.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective randomized single-blind study.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study included 71 patients with inferior turbinate hypertrophy resistant to medical treatment. BP RF was applied to 36 patients. MP RF was applied to 35 patients. Patients received no other treatment during their 6 months of follow-up examinations. They were evaluated by their symptoms (nasal obstruction severity, nasal obstruction frequency, postnasal drip, nasal crusting, hyposmia, patient satisfaction, and preoperative pain) with a visual analogue scale (VAS) done preoperatively on the 1st and 7th days and then in the 1st, 3rd, and 6th months postoperatively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No significant difference was observed comparing the symptoms of patients after BP and MP inferior turbinate RF in long-term follow-up, whereas patients treated with MP RF showed early improvement in their symptoms on the 1st and 7th days postoperatively when compared to the BP group. The application time of MP RF was longer than that of the BP group. Pain during the operation was reported more frequently in the BP group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MP and BP RF treatment showed no difference in long-term efficacy. However, MP RF therapy showed early improvement in symptoms and less pain in patients than in the BP RF group.
authors.affiliation: Bakırköy Dr. Sadi Konuk Education and Research Hospital, Department of Otolaryngology.
authors.forename: Hasan Emre
authors.initials: HE
authors.lastname: Koçak
authors.affiliation: Bağcılar Education and Research Hospital, Department of Otolaryngology.
authors.forename: Bengül
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Altaş
authors.affiliation: Bağcılar Education and Research Hospital, Department of Otolaryngology.
authors.forename: Salih
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Aydın
authors.affiliation: Bağcılar Education and Research Hospital, Department of Otolaryngology.
authors.forename: Ümit
authors.initials: Ü
authors.lastname: Taşkın
authors.affiliation: Bağcılar Education and Research Hospital, Department of Otolaryngology.
authors.forename: Mehmet Faruk
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Oktay
authors.affiliation: Bakırköy Dr. Sadi Konuk Education and Research Hospital, Department of Otolaryngology.
authors.forename: Mustafa Suphi
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Elbistanlı
authors.affiliation: Bakırköy Dr. Sadi Konuk Education and Research Hospital, Department of Otolaryngology.
authors.forename: Ayşe Pelin
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Yiğider
mesh_terms: D017115:Catheter Ablation / Q000379:methods*; D004564:Electrocoagulation / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006984:Hypertrophy / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015508:Nasal Obstruction / Q000628:therapy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D023842:Rhinometry, Acoustic / Q000379:methods; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014420:Turbinates / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*