Airflow and symptom outcomes between allergic and non-allergic rhinitis patients from turbinoplasty

Background: Inferior turbinate procedures are applied to relieve medically refractory nasal obstruction.However, the nature of congestion differs between allergic(AR) and non-allergic rhinitis(NAR).This study compares surgical outcomes between AR and NAR patients.Methodology: A case-control study of patients undergoing turbinate ± septoplasty surgery for nasal obstruction was performed.Patient reported outcomes were: nasal obstruction, global nasal function(GNF), and sino-nasal outcome test(SNOT-22) with rhinitis, facial symptom, sleep and psychological sub-scores .Nasal peak inspiratory flow(NPIF) assessed nasal airflow.Measurements were obtained preoperatively and 3 months postoperatively.Results:190 patients were assessed.AR had worse obstruction and worse GNF.All outcomes improved post-surgery; nasal obstruction, GNF, SNOT-22, rhinitis-symptoms, facial-symptoms, sleep-function, psychological-function and NPIF.GNF improvement was greater in AR.NPIF improvement was similar between groups.Conclusions: Both AR and NAR patients gained benefit from surgery to relieve nasal obstruction.AR patients demonstrate greater improvement in GNF score but allergy management may contribute to this.