Results of Radiofrequency Ablation of Inferior Turbinate Hypertrophy in Patients with Allergic and Non-Allergic Rhinitis

OBJECTIVES: For the treatment of the inferior turbinate hypertrophy that is unresponsive to medical treatment, turbinate surgery with radiofrequency is a widely used method. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of turbinate surgery with radiofrequency ablation for the treatment of turbinate hypertrophy, and compare the results of patients with allergic rhinitis and non-allergic rhinitis. METHODS: A total of 59 consecutive patients aged 18–67 years (mean 37±13) who underwent radiofrequency ablation to the inferior turbinate at our tertiary care hospital from September 2017 to January 2018 were enrolled in this prospective nonrandomized clinical study. The patients with allergic rhinitis (n=23) were classed as group 1, and the patients with non-allergic rhinitis (n=36) were classed as group 2. Endoscopic nasal examination and an acoustic rhinometer were applied, and a standard 0–10 visual analog scale (VAS) was used to assess nasal symptoms preoperatively and postoperatively at the third and sixth months. RESULTS: The study found a significant reduction in nasal obstruction for both groups postoperatively. This reduction was higher in group 1. The decrease in nasal VAS scores for itching, rhinorrhea, and sneezing were statistically significant in group 1, whereas the decrease in nasal VAS scores for sneezing was significant in group 2. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that radiofrequency appears to be an effective and safe treatment option for inferior turbinate hypertrophy of patients with allergic rhinitis or non-allergic rhinitis. It also provides a better perception of all nasal symptoms in patients with allergic rhinitis, and a better perception of nasal obstruction and sneezing in patients with non-allergic rhinitis.