COMPARATIVE STUDY OF EFFICACY OF MUCOSAL ELECTROCAUTRY VERSUS SUBMUCOSAL DIATHERMY FOR THE TREATMENT OF INFERIOR TURBINATE HYPERTROPHY OF NOSE

Objective: To compare the efficacy of submucosal electrocautry versus submucosal diathermy for the surgical treatment of inferior turbinate hypertrophy of nose and to analyze the outcome of both treatment options. Methodology: Retrospective study was done in 100 cases at the department of otorhinolaryngology, head and neck surgery department JPMC and PMCH Nawabshah, form January 2007 to July 2008. The patients suffering from inferior turbinate hypertrophy were included in this study having ages between 20 to 35 years. Demographic data were obtained from the patient files at the Hospital and were complied for result. Results: Among one hundred patients which were evaluated and surgically treated, 30 cases were of allergic rhinitis, 28 cases of vasomotor rhinitis, 22 cases were of chronic hypertrophic rhinitis and rest of 20 cases had mild septal deviation. The results were evaluated for the patients, pre-, post-operative symptoms and clinical findings. Conclusion: Submucosal diathermy was found more successful in relieving the patients’ symptoms and decreasing the size of the inferior turbinates as compared to mucosal electrocautry.