Comparison of microdebrider-assisted inferior turbinoplasty and submucosal resection for children with hypertrophic inferior turbinates

Objectives: The aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness and safety of microdebrider-assisted inferior turbinoplasty (MAIT) with submucosal resection (SR) for children with hypertrophic inferior turbinates. Materials and methods: One hundred and twenty children with chronic nasal obstruction due to hypertrophic inferior turbinates were enrolled. These children were randomly assigned to receive SR of the inferior turbinate (n = 60) or MAIT (n = 60). Ten children who did not appear to display any nasal discomfort served as normal controls. Surgical-outcome was evaluated with respect to four distinct parameters: nasal endoscopy, subjective assessment of nasal symptoms by the patient using a visual analogue scale, anterior rhinomanometry, and saccharin test. These evaluations were conducted before surgery and at 1 week, 1 and 3 months after surgery. Results: In the SR group, turbinate edema was decreased significantly at 1 and 3 months after surgery (p < 0.05). Nasal secretions and crusting were increased significantly (p < 0.05) in the SR group at 1 week after surgery and then decreased significantly at 1 and 3 months after surgery. In the MAIT group, turbinate edema and nasal secretions were decreased significantly at 1 and 3 months after surgery (p < 0.05). Nasal crusting was not observed after surgery. Subjective complaints including nasal obstruction, sneezing, rhinorrhea and hyposmia were significantly improved in both groups from 1 month after surgery (p < 0.05). Rhinomanometric assessment did not reveal significant improvement until 3 months after surgery in both groups. Saccharin transit time was significantly increased (p < 0.05) compared to baseline at 1 week after surgery in the SR group but was not significantly different in the MAIT group. Conclusion: MAIT and SR are both effective at relieving nasal obstruction due to the presence of hypertrophic inferior turbinates. MAIT is superior to SR with regard to preserving the nasal mucosa. (c) 2007 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.