The Effect of 3D-Printed Custom External Nasal Splint on Edema and Ecchymosis After Rhinoplasty

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of traditional thermoplastic splints vs a 3D-printed custom external nasal splint designed to apply pressure to the lateral osteotomy lines and neighboring periorbital region on edema and ecchymosis after rhinoplasty.

Forty patients undergoing open rhinoplasty were included in this prospective randomized controlled study. The patients were divided into 2 groups. In the study group, the new 3D-printed custom external nasal splint was used. In the control group, the thermoplastic external nasal splint was used. Periorbital edema and ecchymosis scores were assessed peroperative before external nasal splint application, postoperatively at the 1st and 4th hours, and 1st, 2nd, 5th, 7th, 10th, and 15th days.

There were lower scores of ecchymosis and edema in the study group compared to the control group for all the follow-up controls. There was a significant difference between the 2 groups with respect to the occurrence of ecchymosis for all follow-up controls except for the first postoperative hour and the seventh postoperative day (P < .05). Comparison of the 2 groups with respect to the grade of edema showed a significant difference only in the first and fourth postoperative hours (P < .05).

The study detected less edema and ecchymosis scores using this 3D custom external nasal splint, thus creating a new area of use for 3D printers in the field of facial esthetic surgery. New thermoplastic splints of different shapes and sizes can be produced that can compress the osteotomy lines and the neighboring periorbital region.