Long-term effects of adenotonsillectomy on growth and symptoms in childhood

Abstract

Background and Objectives This study was performed to evaluate the long-term effect ofadenotonsillectomy on childhood growth by examining preoperative growth status and presentingsymptoms.Subjects and Method One hundred and four patients who underwent adenotonsillectomyfrom January to December 2009 were enrolled in this study. Clinical data were collected frommedical record reviews and through the administered questionnaire. We investigated symptomsand growth changes during 5 years following the surgery.Results The mean age of patients was 6.0±1.94 years (range, 3-10), with the male to femaleratio of 62:42. Pre-operative symptoms were significantly improved after the surgery. The meanpre-operative height and weight percentiles were 53.6±27.4 and 59.6±29.2 at initial evaluation,and 67.1±26.4 and 59.6±28.6 at 5 years post adenotonsillectomy (p＜0.001, p=0.989), respectively.An increase in height percentile was more prominent in patients whose pre-operativeheight percentile was less than 50 compared to those with a percentile of 50 or more (p＜0.001).Weight percentile was significantly increased in those with the pre-operative weight percentileof less than 50 and decreased in patients with a percentile of 50 or more.Conclusion Adenotonsillectomy has a positive effect on height growth in children with adenotonsillarhypertrophy, especially in patients whose height percentile is less than 50. Weightgain also can be expected in preoperative low-weight children.