Comparison Of Surgical Techniques Used In Post-Traumatic And Non-Traumatic Rhinoseptoplasty

The main goals of septorhinoplasty are to correct cosmetic and functional defects, which may occur in a patient with no history of previous trauma. As the most prominent facial feature, the nose has an increased risk of injury. Nasal fracture may eventually result in significant defects; posing challenges to the surgeon.

The aim of the study is to compare the technique used in post-traumatic and non -traumatic cases of rhinoplasties.

The study group consisted of 227 patients, mean age 37.511.4 years, median 36 years, age range from 18 to 79 years. Statistical analysis was performed using the Statistica 13.3 package StatSoft, Dell Statistica. Categorical variables are presented as frequencies and percentages. The Chi2 or Fisher's exact test - when the number in cells were less than 5, was respectively used to check whether there was a correlation between nasal injuries and surgical technique. The level of statistical significance was assumed to be equal to α=0.05.

Statistically significant differences were found in the use of five techniques. Septal filtration to the spine (44.1% vs 10.7%), septal extension graft (5.9% vs 1.3%), spreader graft (41.1% vs 21.1%) and osteotomy (85.3% vs 61.0%) were all performed more in patients with nasal trauma. On the other hand, LC steal was performed significantly more often in patients without nasal trauma (36.5% vs 22.1%).

Nose injuries lead to cosmetic and functional complications pose a challenge to the rhinoplasty surgeon. Optimal management in the case of posttraumatic nose requires surgeon's experience and precise surgical planning.