Radiofrequency Turbinate Reduction Risks



Turbinate Radiofrequency Complications - Turbinate Radiofrequency Risks - Radiofrequency Turbinate Reduction Complications

Radiofrequency Turbinate Reduction complications and risks can be summarized as below:

• Thick nasal secretion, crusting, drying (usually disappears within a few weeks)
• If excessive mucosal erosion is present at the surgery, fragrant crusting can be seen for few weeks
• Nose bleeding (usually disappears within a few days after surgery)
• Turbinate tissue is normally only reduced with modern radiofrequency devices as you can see on the above videos. If the turbinate tissue is removed surgically, empty nasal syndrome may occur. Decrease in nasal function, drying in the nose, bleeding (atrophic rhinitis may occur in the future)



Turbinate functions were not clearly understood many years ago and excessive tissue resections were done. After this procedure, empty nose symptoms have appeared in many patients, such as decreased nasal functions, dry feeling in the nose, recurrent nasal mucosal infections, nasal bleeding and atrophic rhinitis over a long period of time. Current guidelines is suggest that minimal mucosal traumatic volume reduction procedures such as radiofrequency. Turbinate resections or partial removal techniques is not suitable for nose functions. Turbinectomy surgeries are called a "nasal crime" in some textbooks (you can find links at the source links on the below).

In the above photo, the inferior turbinates are completely removed, abnormal increase in the airway volume in the nose and dry nasal mucosa are seen.

• Scar tissue may form between the turbinate and the septum



During the turbinate radiofrequency procedure, excessive damage to the nasal mucosa or accompanying septoplasty may rarely result in adhesions between the septum and the turbinate. Particularly after the procedure silicone splint remains in the nose for at least 7 days, reducing the risk of adhesions.



In this case, which may lead to nasal obstruction, it is enough to cut the area of adhesion under local anesthesia and office conditions, and to place a splint of silicone on it for at least 1 week. Self-soluble nose pads in 3-5 days usually fall in the nose. Silicone nasal splints reduce the risk of intra-nasal adhesions when stay in the nasal cavity about  7-10 days.



Modern radiofrequency devices is lowering the mucosal damage risks thus related problems of  adhesions, crusting, thick secretion, mucosal dryness ...etc.

Radiofrequency Turbinate Reduction Videos

Video 1: Radiofrequency Volumetric Reduction (RAVOR) For Inferior Turbinate

 

 

Video 2: Coblation Inferior Turbinate Reduction (Coblation technology combines radiofrequency energy and saline to create a plasma field. The plasma field remains at a relatively low temperature then other techniques)

You can find details about "Radiofrequency Turbinate Reduction" and before and after photos at >> Radiofrequency Turbinate Reduction in Istanbul

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Murat Enoz, MD, Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgeon - ENT Doctor in Istanbul

 

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