Radiofrequency Ablation for Inferior Turbinate Hypertrophy: Predictive Factors for Short and Long-Term Outcomes.

Objectives: Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA) is a widely used technique for treatment of nasal obstruction due to inferior turbinate hypertrophy. This study aims to evaluate short and long-term outcome after RFA. Secondly, predictive factors for this outcome were evaluated.

Methods: A prospective clinical study was performed in 65 patients to evaluate short-term outcome and predictive factors (Study A). To evaluate long-term outcome and predictive factors we performed a second clinical study in 124 patients (Study B). Patients scored nasal symptoms on a 1 to 5 points visual analogue scale (VAS) and filled in questionnaires about their comorbidity, previous nasal surgery, and medication use.

Results: : There was significant short-term (6-8 weeks after RFA) improvement in nasal obstruction (VAS -1.3,  < .001), trouble exercising (VAS -1.5,  < .001), trouble sleeping (VAS -0.9,  < .001), snoring (VAS -1.1, < .001), and hyposmia (VAS -0.6,  = .004). Smoking ( = .065,  = .047) was a predictor for less optimized and previous use of decongestive nasal spray ( = .135,  = .005) for better short-term outcome. : Nasal obstruction significantly decreased in the long term (1-5 years after RFA) compared to VAS before RFA (VAS -1.5,  < .001), but slightly increased compared to VAS 6 to 8 weeks after RFA (VAS +0.3,  = .036). Allergy ( = .066,  = .006), asthma ( = .068,  = .005), and previous use of corticosteroid nasal spray ( = .050,  = .016) were associated with a less optimized and older age ( = .217,  < .001) with better long-term outcome.

Conclusion: RFA is an efficient treatment for nasal obstruction, and improves sleeping, exercising, snoring, and hyposmia. Predictors for good short-term outcome were previous use of decongestive nasal spray and no smoking. Predictors for a less optimized long-term outcome were allergy, asthma, and previous use of corticosteroid nasal spray. Older age was associated with better long-term outcome.