A comparative study of microdebrider and conventional instruments for nasal polyposis surgery

Aim: To evaluate the effects of conventional instruments and microdebrider use on surgical outcomes, complication rates, and quality of life following surgery for chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps.Methods: The clinical data of 72 patients with chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps who underwent functional endoscopic sinus surgery were analysed retrospectively and allocated into two groups based on the instrument used in surgery: Punch Group (n = 39) and Microdebrider Group (n = 33). Preoperative and postoperative mucociliary clearance, olfactory function, synechiae formation, and quality of life scores as measured by the Sino-Nasal Outcome Test-22 were assessed as outcome measures.Results: The Microdebrider group exhibited significantly improved mucociliary clearance and lower synechiae incidence compared to the Punch group postoperatively (p < 0.001, p = 0.046, respectively). However, analysis revealed no significant differences between the groups in olfactory function and overall total scores of Sino-Nasal Outcome Test-22, except for improvement in the rhinological subdomain in the Microdebrider Group (p = 0.047).Conclusion: Microdebrider-assisted functional endoscopic sinus surgery may offer advantages in preserving mucociliary function and reducing synechia formation. However, similar results observed in subjective patient experience and quality of life scores suggest that while the microdebrider is a useful instrument for the surgeon, it is not an indispensable requirement in every case. This highlights the need to consider factors such as patient profile, the surgeon’s experience, and cost when selecting the surgical method.