Efficacy of Powered Intracapsular Tonsillectomy: A Single-Blinded Prospective Study

Background Powered intracapsular tonsillectomy (PIT) is considered a less invasive alternative to conventional extracapsular tonsillectomy (cTE), potentially reducing postoperative pain and complications. However, most prior studies have been retrospective. Objective This study aimed to assess the clinical utility of PIT in comparison to cTE through a single-blind, randomized controlled trial. Methods In this prospective trial (registered with the WHO International Clinical Trials Registry Platform, ID: JPRN-UMIN000043776), patients undergoing PIT (n = 6) or cTE (n = 5) were evaluated. The primary outcome was postoperative pain measured by the FACES Pain Rating Scale (FRS). Secondary outcomes included analgesic use, dietary intake, and postoperative bleeding. Results The PIT group showed a trend toward lower FRS scores on postoperative days two to four (p = 0.053) and significantly reduced analgesic consumption (p < 0.001). No significant differences were found in dietary intake. No postoperative bleeding occurred in either group. Conclusion PIT was associated with significantly lower analgesic use and a trend toward reduced postoperative pain, with no increased risk of bleeding. PIT may be a safe and minimally invasive alternative to cTE, potentially facilitating earlier postoperative dietary advancement.