A prospective randomized controlled trial evaluated medial-flap turbinoplasty (MFT) versus coblation-assisted turbinoplasty (CAT) in patients with inferior turbinate hypertrophy requiring surgery. Among 44 patients who completed the study, 21 underwent MFT and 23 underwent CAT. Nasal obstruction was assessed using the Nasal Obstruction Symptom Evaluation (NOSE) scale and a visual analog scale (VAS) at baseline and 1, 3, 6, and 12 months postoperatively. Outcome examiners were blinded to the surgical technique. Both procedures significantly improved symptoms at all postoperative assessments (P < .0001).

Although early outcomes were similar, MFT provided greater symptom relief at 12 months, with lower NOSE scores (18.5 vs. 34.5; P = .027) and VAS scores (2.2 vs. 4.0; P = .043). MFT also achieved greater turbinate size reduction (P < .001) and significantly less postoperative crusting.…