A prospective single-blind randomized-controlled trial comparing two surgical techniques for the treatment of snoring: laser palatoplasty versus uvulectomy with punctate palatal diathermy

The aim of this study was to compare laser palatoplasty with uvulectomy with punctate palatal diathermy as treatment modalities for snoring. The study design was a prospective, single‐blind, randomized‐controlled trial. Eighty‐three patients entered the trial. After a mean follow‐up period of more than 18 months there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups regarding the patient perception of benefit from surgery or the subjective improvement in snoring. However, there was a statistically significant difference in the degree of pain in the immediate postoperative period (mean difference = 22.14, 95% CI = 7.98–36.31, P = 0.003), with the pain being worse in the laser palatoplasty group. Relative risk of complications for laser palatoplasty was 1.42 (95% CI = 0.93–2.17). The snoring scores and Glasgow Benefit Inventory scores decreased with time in both the groups but there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups.