Use of the Nd-YAG Laser for Inferior Turbinectomy: A Comparative Study

Nasal obstruction resulting from inferior turbinate hypertrophy was treated by Nd-YAG laser inferior turbinectomy (laser IT). The effectiveness of the procedure was assessed and compared with both functional endoscopic turbinoplasty (turbinoplasty) and con- ventional partial turbinectomy (conventional IT). Materials and methods: A retrospective analytic study was carried out for 53 patients suffering from inferior turbinate hypertrophy. Twenty patients underwent Nd-YAG Laser IT (Group 1), 24 patients underwent turbinoplasy (Group 2) and 9 patients underwent con- ventional IT (Group 3). Improvement in nasal symptoms were assessed. Intra-operative bleeding, duration of hospital stay, and post- operative medications and instrumentation were compared between the three groups. Results: The symptoms of sneezing, hyposmia and rhinorhoea were significantly reduced post-operatively among patients in the three groups and there were no differences statistically between them. The Nd-YAG laser turbinectomy group showed marked reduction in blood loss (average = 12 ml per patient) compared to the turbinoplasy group (average = 181 ml per patient) and conventional IT group (average 201 ml per patient). Hospital stay was much shorter in the laser IT group (average = 0.05 days) compared to Group 2 (1.2 days) and Group 3 (1.3 days). Only one patient in the laser IT group required nasal packing, whereas all patients in the other two groups required nasal packing routinely. Conclusions: Nd-YAG laser IT was effective in reducing the symptoms of nasal obstruction, as well as other nasal symptoms without significant complications. The Nd-YAG laser is recommended as an alternative method, when applicable, in treating patients with nasal obstruction resulting from inferior turbinate hypertrophy.