Coblation versus microdebrider submucosal inferior turbinoplasty
Reviewed by Suki Ahluwalia

This prospective randomised study from Riyadh compares submucosal coblation and submucosal microdebrider inferior turbinate reduction. Seventy patients were recruited who had failed medical treatment and were undergoing isolated inferior turbinate surgery. Outcome measures included the Friedman score and VAS for various nasal symptoms over a six month period. It is not stated whether the assessor is the operating surgeon or not. Appropriate statistical techniques are used in the analysis and both techniques demonstrated a significant reduction in turbinate size and nasal symptoms, reproducible at six months and with minimum complications. The coblation group also had significantly less postoperative pain. Could this be a safe and effective office-based turbinate procedure for the future? 

Inferior turbinate reduction; coblation versus microdebrider - a prospective, randomised study.
Hegazy H, El Badawey M, Behery A
RHINOLOGY
2014;52(4): 306-14.