Cryosurgery Vs Trichloroacetic Acid Chemical Cautery for the Treatment of Hypertrophied Nasal Turbinate: A Comparative Study

Introduction: The Study Aimed To Compare The Results of Cryosurgery With Trichloroacetic Acid Chemical (TCA) Cautery For The Treatment of Hypertrophied Nasal Turbinates.   Materials and Methods: This was a prospective study of 70 patients with nasal obstruction due to hypertrophied nasal turbinates who were randomly divided in 2 groups of 35 each. In group 1, patients underwent inferior nasal turbinate reduction by cryosurgery and in group 2 patients with cautery by 50 % TCA. The patients were evaluated using SNOT-20 score pre and postoperatively on 6th month.   Results: Significant improvement in symptoms was seen in 28 patients (80 %) in group 1 and in 10 patients (28.57%) in group 2..Improvement in average SNOT Score after cauterization of hypertrophied nasal turbinates by cryosurgery was from 55(severe) to 16(mild) and by TCA was from 54(severe) to 32(mod) in 6 months and this was statistically significant (P<0.001). Complications like bleeding, scarring, infection and adhesion formation were more with TCA than that of cryosurgery group and among these complications scarring was statistically significant (P =0.003).   Conclusion: The use of cryosurgical treatment for hypertrophied nasal turbinates is a safe, curative method as compared to that of TCA cautery which is less curative and with more complications.