Correlation Between the Existing Classifications of Nasal Bone Fractures and Subjective Patient Satisfaction

Since the nose is at the center of the face, small changes to it can cause a big overall change. Therefore, a nasal fracture needs to be operated on when deformity is expected. Although many taxonomies have been developed for nasal bone fractures, no study has aimed to predict individual patient satisfaction. Herein, the authors tried to determine any correlation between the existing classifications of nasal bone fractures and subjective patient satisfaction. A retrospective study and telephone survey were conducted in 149 patients who underwent closed reduction for a pure nasal bone fracture. Pretraumatic, prereduction, and postoperative patient satisfactions were measured on a numerical scale from 1 to 5. The difference between pretraumatic and prereduction satisfactions was calculated to confirm the change in short-term satisfaction after trauma. The difference between pretraumatic and preoperative satisfactions was measured to determine change in long-term satisfaction postoperatively. The Stranc Robertson classification, modified Murray classification, and the presence of septal fracture were used to classify fractures. Independent and Jonckheere-Terpstra t tests were used in statistical analysis. Only 86 of 149 were included in the study. There was no significant difference in patient satisfaction among frontal/lateral (P = 0.70, 0.56), frontal I/II (P = 1.00, 0.24), and lateral I/II groups (P = 0.57, 0.67) according to the Stranc Robertson classification. Septal fracture (P = 0.21, 0.44) and the modified Murray classification (P = 0.14, 0.47) also had no effect on satisfaction. Existing classification systems have the advantage of reflecting and distinguishing the characteristics of fractures, but there is a limit in their ability to reflect subjective patient satisfaction.