Randomized Trials Comparing Inferior Turbinoplasty Techniques for Nasal Obstruction: A Meta-analysis

Introduction: Our objective was to systematically review the international literature for randomized trials presenting subjective outcomes for nasal obstruction treated with inferior turbinoplasties; followed by a meta-analysis.

Methods: Two authors searched and screened the existing literature from PubMed/MEDLINE, Google Scholar, Scopus, and CINAHL through January 28, 2024.

Results: In total, 15 studies randomized patients into 8 different surgical inferior turbinoplasty techniques. Follow-up varied between 6 months and 3 years. The studies provided outcomes at 6 months after bilateral inferior turbinoplasties, the pre and post-turbinoplasty visual analog scale values were as follows: (1) microdebrider, (2) submucosal resection, (3) radiofrequency ablation, (4) electrocautery, (5) bipolar, and (6) laser ablation. At 3 years, the tissue-removing techniques (microdebrider and sub-mucous resection) as well as outfracturing maintained their reductions in the visual analog scale, compared to tissue-radiofrequency ablation, which demonstrated an increase in the visual analog scale compared to before surgery. Findings are presented herein.

Conclusions: In this systematic review, procedures that either removed tissue or outfractured had better short and long-term results when compared to thermal or ablating techniques.