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.