COMPARISON OF SUBMUCOSAL RESECTION (SMR) AND CAUTERIZATION IN TREATMENT OF TURBINATE HYPERTROPHY

Abstract

Objective: To compare submucosal resection and bipolar cauterization as surgical intervention for inferior turbinate hypertrophy of the nose. To analyze post-operative complications of SMR and Mucosal cauterization. To access post-surgical outcome of both techniques for nasal obstruction caused by ITH.

Study design: Prospective quasi-experimental comparative study

Methodology: The study included 100 surgical cases admitted through OPD from August, 2023 to June, 2024 at Combined Military Hospital, Kharian Cantt, Departments of Otorhinolaryngology. Patient from both genders, age between 20 to 35 years. These patients had no other comorbidities. The disease patterns of all candidates were different. Post operative complications and relief in nasal obstruction based on VAS were analyzed on follow up at 1 week, 1 month and 3 months for optimal results.

Results:  A total of 100 patients underwent nasal surgery, 50 received Submucosal Resection (Group1) and 50 underwent cauterization (Group2). In Group1 patients, postoperative reactionary hemorrhage occurred in 14 (28%) cases. In Group2, hemorrhage was noted in 4 (8%) cases, mostly in vasomotor rhinitis (1/8; 12.5%). Facial pain at 1 month was observed in 10 (20%) of SMR patients, whereas cauterization showed a higher rate of postoperative pain, with 14 (28%) patients affected. Crusting at 1 month was relatively uncommon, seen in only 2 (4%) SMR cases and 8 (16%) cauterization cases. Cauterization, therefore, showed a higher crusting tendency, particularly in males with allergic rhinitis (4/12; 33%). Nasal synechiae at 2 months were recorded in only 2 (4%) cases in the cauterization group and none in the SMR group.

Conclusion: It was found that overall surgical intervention was helpful in long term management of inferior turbinate hypertrophy in patients generally.