Outcome of Submucosal Inferior Turbinoplasty in Perennial Allergic Rhinitis

Area of Science:

• Otolaryngology
• Allergy and Immunology

Background:

• Pharmacotherapy is the primary treatment for allergic rhinitis but has adverse effects and compliance issues.
• Topical steroid therapy is preferred for long-term prophylaxis but often suffers from limited patient compliance.
• Submucosal inferior turbinoplasty presents a potential alternative, reducing treatment duration compared to daily topical steroids.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of submucosal inferior turbinoplasty in managing perennial allergic rhinitis.
• To assess the impact of the procedure on patient-reported quality of life and specific allergy symptoms.

Main Methods:

• A prospective interventional study involving 35 patients diagnosed with perennial allergic rhinitis.
• Disease severity assessed using the mini Rhinoconjunctivitis Quality of Life Questionnaire (mini RQLQ) scoring system.
• Patients underwent bilateral submucosal inferior turbinoplasty under endoscopic guidance and local anesthesia.

Main Results:

• Significant improvement (p < 0.05) in 50% of assessed symptoms, including nasal obstruction, sneezing, and watery eyes.
• Complete improvement (p < 0.05) in symptoms such as sleep disturbance, nasal discharge, and irritability.
• 48.5% of patients experienced significant relief from nasal obstruction, leading to improved quality of life.

Conclusions:

• Submucosal inferior turbinoplasty is an effective treatment for perennial allergic rhinitis, particularly in patients with hypertrophied turbinates.
• The procedure leads to substantial symptom reduction and enhances the overall quality of life.
• Inferior turbinoplasty should be offered as an option to patients with allergic rhinitis and associated hypertrophied turbinates, with comprehensive counseling.