Is Turbinate Surgery Effective in Patients with Allergic Rhinitis?

For many patients with allergic rhinitis (AR), congestion is the most troublesome symptom, and it is not always relieved with allergen avoidance, pharmacotherapy, or immunotherapy. Turbinate reduction therapy is an option (especially with newer turbinate surgery methods), but older total inferior turbinate resections sometimes led to loss of normal mucosal physiologic function or “empty nose syndrome.”

Researchers performed a meta-analysis of 18 case series and randomized trials that involved 1411 patients with AR and persistent nasal congestion. These included studies in which mucosal saving techniques were used: radiofrequency ablation (radiofrequency energy is delivered submucosally to the inferior turbinate via needle) or microdebridemen…