Outcomes after radiofrequency neurolysis of the posterior nasal nerve for treating Chinese adults with moderate to severe allergic rhinitis

Abstract

Background

Temperature-controlled radiofrequency ablation (TCRA) represents a minimally invasive alternative to surgical posterior nasal neurectomy for the management of allergic rhinitis (AR). However, to date, the impact of this minimally invasive operation on Chinese adult individuals suffering from AR remains unclear.

Objectives

To assess the safety and efficacy of TCRA for the treatment of perennial moderate and severe AR in Chinese adults.

Methods

This retrospective case-control study included 48 consecutive patients assigned to two groups: one received TCRA and the other received posterior nasal neurectomy (PNN). Follow-up assessments were conducted at 11–13 months post-surgery. The reflective total nasal symptom score (rTNSS), total non-nasal symptom score (rTNNSS), total rhinitis medication score (TRMS), and total nasal resistance were measured both preoperatively and postoperatively.

Results

At the tertiary endpoint, the TCRA group demonstrated an 73.1 % improvement in rTNSS compared to baseline, while the PNN group showed a 74.0 % improvement. However, the mean change in rTNNSS at the tertiary endpoint was 72.7 % for the TCRA group and 73.1 % for the PNN group. The mean change in TRMS from baseline to the tertiary endpoint was 68.8 % for the TCRA group and 70.9 % for the PNN group. TCRA yielded a striking 62.5 % reduction in total nasal resistance. Notably, a positive linear correlation was observed between the subjective and objective assessments of nasal resistance at baseline, the secondary and the tertiary endpoints.

Conclusion

The findings suggest that the minimally invasive TCRA technique, as a safe and effective surgical procedure, can provide a novel and superior alternative to PNN for Chinese adults with AR.