To evaluate the efficacy and results of radiofrequency turbinoplasty in patients with rhinitis medicamentosa due to imidazolines like oxymetazoline and xylometazoline.

This is a prospective, single-blinded, randomized controlled study.

Study was conducted on 20 patients in a tertiary level center from January 2010 to February 2016. Patients with symptoms and signs of nasal obstruction due to rhinitis medicamentosa were selected. Patients were aged from 16 to 43 years (mean age is 24 years). Twelve were males and eight were females. The duration of use of nasal decongestant drops varied from 3 months to 5 years. The turbinoplasty was performed using the radiofrequency method. Nasal obstruction symptom evaluation (NOSE) questionnaires are used for subjective assessment and nasal endoscopy view score (NES) was used for objective assessment pre- and postoperatively. Follow-up was done at the end of 15 days and 3 months after surgery. The results were statistically analyzed by paired t-test.

The mean NOSE score before procedure was 92. At the 15th postoperative day, mean NOSE score reduced to 1.3 and it further reduced at the 3rd month to 0.5 (p < 0.001), with 99.5% reduction in subjective symptoms. The mean NES before procedure was 3.95. On the 15th day, it was 0.35 and at the end of 3rd month, it was 0 with 91.1% reduction in objective evaluation (p < 0.001). Results were same on left and right side of nose. No major postoperative complication was observed in patients.

Radiofrequency turbinoplasty technique can be recommended as an effective method in imidazoline-induced rhinitis medicamentosa. It is simple, comfortable, fast relief giving, no repeated steroids, and cost-effective, single-session treatment. Good compliance and cooperation from patients can be obtained with no major complications of the treatment. It allows patients to be managed in the office environment.

Rao SVM. Radiofrequency Turbinoplasty in Imidazoline-induced Rhinitis Medicamentosa. Clin Rhinol An Int J 2017;10(2):53-57.