Powered intracapsular tonsillectomy in the management of recurrent tonsillitis.

OBJECTIVE

To compare intracapsular tonsillectomy (IT) and traditional tonsillectomy (TT) in treating recurrent adenotonsillitis or streptococcal pharyngitis.

DESIGN

Retrospective chart review.

SETTING

Tertiary care pediatric referral center.

RESULTS

Of 166 patients who met all inclusion criteria, 117 received TT and 49 received IT. Seventeen TT patients and 8 IT patients were treated at least once postoperatively for streptococcal pharyngitis or tonsillitis. The mean number of infections after surgery in each group did not reach statistical significance (P = 0.295).

CONCLUSION

There was no difference between the IT and TT groups in postoperative infection rates.