Clinical features and literature review related to the material differences in thread rhinoplasty: Two case reports

Thread rhinoplasty can trigger a reaction to thread material, which is a foreign body. We compared clinical features induced by absorbable and non-absorbable threads following thread rhinoplasty.

Two patients who underwent different thread materials showed different clinical courses and different Hounsfield unit (HU) values in computed tomography. Patients with absorbable thread showed high HU values similar to a metallic material, and the HU value of inflammation was similar to vascular tissues with a lot of water (250). In the intraoperative field, absorbable thread materials and micro-abscesses were observed. In contrast, in the case of a non-absorbable thread, an object presumed to be thread was seen on the computed tomography (CT), and the HU value of inflammatory tissues was less than 100. In both patients, post-operative HU decreased to less than 100 and the clinical course improved. In both cases, histopathologic findings revealed foreign body granuloma associated with inflammation.

Absorbable threads were more aggressive and are more easily detected on CT.