Comparison of the post-operative outcomes between different surgical techniques for inferior turbinate reduction surgery

Objectives: To compare and measure post-operative outcomes among various surgical techniques for reducing inferior turbinate hypertrophy (ITH), and to identify the factors associated with the clinical outcomes of turbinoplasty in patients with this condition.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out from January 2021 to December 2022 at the Otorhinolaryngology Department of King Abdulaziz Medical City in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. A total of 301 adult patients with ITH were included and were divided into different groups. Postoperative follow-up assessments were completed after one week, one month, and 6 months to evaluate outcomes and complications associated with each surgical technique; descriptive analysis, cross-tabulation, and exact logistic regression were utilized as data analysis methods.

Results: Most patients in both groups experienced partial or complete improvement after surgery, with 92% showing positive outcomes. Common clinical signs included deviated nasal septum deviation and external nasal deformity, while nasal obstruction was most frequently reported as the primary symptom. Post-surgery bleeding occurred in 3.7% of cases; no adhesions were noted. Microdebrider, medial flap, out-fracture, and submucosal diathermy techniques all demonstrated significantly higher improvement rates than others.

Conclusion: The identified techniques with higher improvement rates offer evidence-based guidance for selecting optimal surgical approaches, while the study’s limitations warrant further prospective research to validate these findings. Ultimately, it contributes valuable knowledge to the field of otorhinolaryngology, aiming to enhance patient outcomes and improve the management of ITH worldwide.