David Rosen, MD, Associate Professor of Otolaryngology Head and Neck at Jefferson Medical College, discusses recent trends using partial or intracapsular tonsillectomy in adult patients with larger tonsils.

Partial or intracapsular tonsillectomy is traditionally used in pediatric patients as it reduces the risk of bleeding, pain and lowers the usage of post-op narcotics. A recent trend is to now perform intracapsular tonsillectomies in adult patients with large tonsils.

This technique leaves the rim of the tonsil tissue behind avoiding exposure of the muscle. There is less than a 5 percent revision rate in adult patients using this technique.

References and Resources
Cohen MS, Getz AE, Isaacson G, Gaughan J, Szeremeta W. Intracapsular vs. extracapsular tonsillectomy: a comparison of pain. Laryngoscope. 2007 Oct;117(10):1855-8.

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