Objectives/hypothesis: The present report is a pilot clinical study about a new bipolar ablation technique for the treatment of turbinate hypertrophy, which offers an alternative to conventional methods.
Study design: Prospective, clinical.
Methods: From August 1999 to March 2000, a new bipolar radiofrequency system with acoustic feedback control was submucosally applied for the treatment of 38 patients with nasal airway obstruction of vasomotor (n = 31) or allergic (n = 7) genesis. The therapy was made ambulatory with surface anesthesia. Data were collected by questionnaire and rhinomanometry preoperatively and 2 and 20 months postoperatively.
Results: Nearly all patients reported an improvement of their nasal breathing, with 68% of them reporting a full and 29% a partial recovery. No significant differences were reported with regard to the response of the allergic versus the vasomotor rhinitis. On average, a definite benefit was observed after 2 weeks. Side effects, such as bleeding, synechia, or atrophic changes of the mucosa, which would have to be treated, were not observed.
Conclusion: The new bipolar radiofrequency thermotherapy presents an efficient option for the treatment of turbinate hypertrophy, which meets the requirements for an outpatient treatment.