Comparison Between Various Methods of Management of Hypertrophied Inferior Turbinate in Cases of Perennial Allergic Rhinitis: A Prospective Comparative Study

Abstract Background: Allergic rhinitis (AR) is a chronic inflammatory condition of the nasal mucosa triggered by immunoglobulin E-mediated hypersensitivity to allergens. A significant proportion of patients experience persistent nasal obstruction due to inferior turbinate hypertrophy, warranting surgical intervention when medical management fails. This study compares the effectiveness of three surgical techniques—conventional turbinectomy, electrocautery turbinectomy, and microdebrider turbinectomy—in relieving nasal obstruction and improving quality of life in AR patients. Materials and Methods: A prospective comparative study was conducted in rural South India within a hospital setting in 2023. Ninety patients with clinically and radiologically confirmed AR were randomized into three groups ( n = 30 each). Group A underwent conventional turbinectomy, Group B underwent electrocautery turbinectomy, and Group C underwent microdebrider turbinectomy. Outcomes were evaluated with Nasal Obstruction Symptom Evaluation (NOSE) Scale before surgery and 4 weeks after surgery. Statistical analysis was performed using paired Student t test, with P < 0.05 considered significant. Result: All three groups showed improvement in NOSE scores postoperatively. Group C (Microdebrider) had the highest improvement (89.86%), followed by Group A (75.66%) and Group B (53.29%). Group C had few postoperative complaints overall. Statistically significant results were observed in Groups A and C with P value less than 0.05, while Group B showed borderline significance at a P value of 0.051. Conclusion: Microdebrider-assisted inferior turbinectomy is superior to conventional and electrocautery techniques in relieving nasal obstruction due to AR. It ensures better airway patency, fewer postoperative complications, and improved patient outcomes, making it the preferred surgical modality in suitable candidates.