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Objectives: We assessed the efficacy of submucosal
application of radiofrequency to the inferior
turbinate for the treatment of vasomotor rhinitis.
Patients and Methods: Twenty patients with vasomotor
rhinitis (9 males, 11 females; mean age 29.2
years; range 20 to 40 years) were treated with
radiofrequency applied to the inferior turbinate.
Symptoms such as nasal obstruction, sneezing, and
watery nasal discharge were graded with the use of
a visual analog scale (VAS) before, and on days 1,
3, 7, 30, 60, 90, and 180 after the treatment.
Results: The severity of symptoms began to
decrease following the first week after the application.
Maximum relief was achieved between 30 to 60 days
after the intervention. The highest rate of improvement
(85.4%) was reported in sneezing, followed by nasal
obstruction (76.4%) and nasal discharge (67.7%). The
mean VAS scores showed a significant improvement
in all symptoms between 7 to 180 days after the procedure
(p<0.05). The rate of patient satisfaction was
90% for the relief of nasal obstruction and sneezing,
and 80% for nasal discharge. Complaints about vasomotor
rhinitis increased up to a severity near the pretreatment
level in eight patients on the 180th postoperative
day and the procedure was repeated.
Conclusion: These findings indicate that radiofrequency
may be used as an alternative treatment
option in patients with vasomotor rhinitis.