Assessment of the protective role of submucosal saline injection of the inferior turbinates prior to submucosal diathermy or coblation techniques

Abstract

Background Inferior turbinate hypertrophy is a common cause of chronic nasal obstruction with many procedures for management including submucosal diathermy and coblation with a variation in their techniques. The aim of this study was to assess the protective role of submucosal saline injection in the inferior turbinates prior to submucosal diathermy or coblation techniques. A prospective cohort study was conducted on 80 patients diagnosed with bilateral hypertrophied inferior turbinates causing persistent nasal obstruction and not responding to medical treatment. The patients were distributed randomly and equally between 2 groups. Group I included 40 patients operated on with coblation of the inferior turbinates. Group II included 40 patients operated on with submucosal diathermy of the inferior turbinates. The right side of the nose of both groups had a saline injection of the inferior turbinates before the procedure and the left side of the nose did not have such injection. Each side of the nose in every patient was assessed for the degree of nasal crusting at 1 week postoperative, the presence of turbinate gangrene at 3 weeks postoperative, and the visual analog scale (VAS) of four symptoms (nasal discomfort, nasal pain, nasal obstruction, and thick nasal discharge) at 1 week postoperative. Results In the coblation group, there was a significant difference between the right and left sides regarding the degree of crusting at 1 week postoperative, and a non-significant difference between the two sides regarding the presence of gangrene at 3 weeks postoperative. In the diathermy group, there was a significant difference between the right and left sides regarding the same parameters. Comparison between the injection and non-injection sides in each group regarding the nasal symptoms showed a highly significant difference between the two sides in each group favoring the injection side. Conclusion Saline injection prior to inferior turbinate coblation or submucosal diathermy had a protective effect against crusting with both techniques and gangrene formation with submucosal diathermy. This was reflected on better postoperative nasal symptoms.