Treatment of Nasal Bone Fracture with Reverse U-Shaped Silicone Sheet

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: The majority of nasal bone fractures have been managed by routine procedure of closed reduction and intranasal packing. However, nasal packing can cause nasal injury, hypoxia and patients' discomfort. And, synechiae formation frequently occurs after the nasal surgery. Various methods are used to reduce the incidence of synechiae formation. The purpose of this study is to compare routine procedure and nasal packing with reverse "U" shaped silicone sheet with respect to postoperative nasal synechiae formation and final outcome. METHODS: We analyzed the medical records of 100 patients with nasal bone fracture who were operated by closed reduction in the last one year. The silicone sheet was designed in reverse "U" fan-shape and inserted between the middle turbinate and the septal wall. Nasal packing was removed at two days after the operation, and silicone sheet was removed on 10 to 14 days. RESULTS: Synechiae in the middle meatus developed in 2 of 75 patients. Although synechiae between the middle meatus and nasal septum occurred in patients, the patients did not complaint of any olfactory disturbance or nasal obstruction. CONCLUSION: The reverse "U" fan-shape silicone sheet caused less pain for patients and no significant differences in outcome were found. The results of this study suggest that insertion of silicone sheet between the middle meatus and septum can be a useful method in the prevention of intranasal synechiae formation. The reverse "U" silicone sheet is a good alternative for routine packing methods.