Effectiveness of Radiofrequency Device Treatment for Nasal Valve Collapse in Patients With Nasal Obstruction

Abstract

Objective: Internal nasal valve dysfunction is a prevalent cause of nasal obstruction. This systematic review, along with a Meta-analysis, evaluated the efficacy of temperature-controlled radiofrequency device (RFD) treatment in alleviating nasal obstruction by rectifying nasal valve collapse.

Data sources: A comprehensive review of studies retrieved from PubMed, SCOPUS, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane databases (up to December 2022) was conducted.

Review methods: We included studies that evaluated the quality of life and nasal obstruction scores before and after RFD treatment. In addition, sham-controlled studies were analyzed.

Results: In total, 451 patients across 8 studies were included in the analysis. Patients who underwent RFD treatment reported a significantly enhanced quality of life 24 months after treatment compared to pretreatment scores. The rates of clinically improved states and positive responses regarding quality of life after treatment were 82% and 91%, respectively. Moreover, the disease-specific quality of life, as assessed by the Nasal Obstruction Symptom Evaluation score, significantly improved.

Conclusion: RFD may help improve nasal obstruction symptoms. Further randomized clinical studies on larger cohorts are essential to substantiate its efficacy in enhancing nasal valve function.