Coblation® inferior turbinate reduction: a long-term follow-up with subjective and objective assessment

This article presents long-term outcomes following Coblation® inferior turbinate reduction surgery (CITR) using both subjective and objective outcome measures in a cohort of patients with nasal obstruction secondary to enlarged inferior turbinate. Subjective assessment of the severity of nasal obstruction was assessed using a 100 mm visual analogue scale anchored by the descriptors 'nose completely clear' (0 mm) and 'nose completely blocked' (100 mm). Nasal conductance of airflow was measured by posterior rhinomanometry. Of the original cohort of 18 patients, 13 patients (76%) were available for follow-up at 32 months after surgery. The mean baseline nasal conductance was 248.6 cm3/s (range 2.5-614.8), which improved significantly (p=0.033) to 342.1 cm3/s (range 166.7-500) at 32 months post-operatively. Improvement in the subjective sensation of nasal obstruction was indicated by a lower VAS score compared to baseline. The mean pre-operative VAS was 72 mm (range 49-98), which improved to 53 mm (range 2-93) but this did not achieve statistical significance (10/13 patients scored improved airflow). This was a pilot study of the long-term outcomes of CITR. Despite the small study cohort, there appears to be sustained improvement in nasal conductance of air-flow up to 32 months follow-up. Although there was improvement in the subjective assessment of nasal obstruction, this did not achieve statistical significance.