Comparing sinonasal quality of life in pediatric nasal obstruction: Inferior turbinate cauterization vs turbinoplasty – A pilot study

The objective of this study is to evaluate and compare the impacts of inferior turbinate monopolar submucosal cauterization and microdebrider-assisted inferior turbinoplasty on the sinonasal quality of life in pediatric patients with chronic nasal obstruction. A pilot randomized controlled trial. Tertiary hospital. This pilot clinical trial enrolled pediatric patients, all of whom had persistent inferior nasal turbinate hypertrophy. They were assigned to undergo either inferior turbinate monopolar submucosal cauterization or microdebrider-assisted turbinoplasty. The procedures were conducted under general anesthesia for both groups. Patient-reported sinonasal symptoms were assessed using the SNOT-22 questionnaire at baseline and during follow-ups. The study enrolled 52 pediatric participants aged 4–14 years for turbinate reduction, ending with 40 after follow-up losses. Nineteen underwent cauterization, and 21 had turbinoplasty. Both groups showed significant SNOT-22 score improvements at 1, 3, and 6 months post-surgery, though the turbinoplasty group had initially greater improvements. No significant differences were found in postoperative complications, except a higher malodor sensation incidence at one week in the cauterization group. In conclusion, both monopolar submucosal cautery and microdebrider-assisted turbinoplasty improved sinonasal quality of life in pediatric patients. Monopolar cautery was associated with more early postoperative malodor but may offer potential cost-effectiveness and simplicity. Further research is needed to validate these findings and refine surgical approaches.