Does adenotonsillectomy improve growth in children with obstructive adenotonsillar hypertrophy?

Faltering growth may be associated with adenotonsillar hypertrophy, but its pathophysiological mechanism is unclear. This study included 29 pre-pubertal children with obstructive adenotonsillar hypertrophy, and aimed to investigate the probable difference in energy intake and serum insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) and insulin-like growth factor binding protein 3 (IGFBP-3) levels before and 6 months after adenotonsillectomy. Weight and height standard deviation scores, energy intake per kilogram and serum lGF-1 levels were found to be significantly higher 6 months after adenotonsillectomy, indicating that adenotonsillar hypertrophy is associated with poor growth.