Less invasive “cold” techniques: powered submucosal inferior turbinoplasty In a powered/submucous inferior turbinoplasty, your surgeon uses an instrument called a microdebrider with a tiny rotating cutting tip that can be changed for individual anatomy and type of surgery. The microdebrider offers the surgeon more precision, control and speed than other surgery tools, which is why it is widely used by many ENT surgeons. The microdebrider’s precision allows the physician to remove enough tissue to correct the obstruction while preserving the mucous lining and turbinate tissue you need for healthy nasal/sinus function.
The advantages of this technique include the following.
- “Cold” technique that causes no thermal (heat) injury. This is called a cold technique because it doesn’t rely on heat/light energy. Electrocautery, bipolar ablation and laser cautery use heat/light energy which is harder to control or predict, making it easier for mucous membrane or bone to be damaged during your procedure.
- More complete, precise removal. Effective turbinate surgery requires a delicate balance between removing enough tissue to correct the obstruction and preserving the mucous lining you need. The microdebrider is so precise and controlled that surgeons can use it to reduce the turbinate precisely as needed for each patient and see the immediate results of their work during surgery.
- Normal turbinate function preserved. The microdebrider and the powered/submucous inferior turbinoplasty method provide the precision, accuracy and control necessary to preserve the surface lining of the turbinates and healthy turbinate function.
- Minimally invasive. There is no external incision; only a very small opening in the turbinate where the tiny tip of the microdebrider is inserted.