The Clinical Effectiveness of Open Septorhinoplasty for Primary Treatment of Nasal bone Fracture

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Closed reduction has been a primary treatment procedure for nasal bone fracture, but the post-operative results have not always been satisfactory. We compared the satisfaction rate of closed reduction with that of open septorhinoplasty for the treatment of nasal bone fracture and evaluated the effectiveness of open septorhinoplasty for the primary treatment of nasal bone fracture. MATERIALS AND METHOD: We performed a retrospective review of patients who underwent a closed reduction treatment for nasal bone fracture from March 2004 to February 2006 and conducted telephone surveys to monitor their post-operative cosmetic and functional problems. We estimated the factors that were involved in the low satisfaction rate and determined the indications of open septorhinoplasty. Prospectively, the patients who underwent open septorhinoplasty from September 2006 to August 2007 were interviewed for their cosmetic and functional satisfaction rate. RESULTS: Forty percent of the patients who underwent closed reduction had cosmetic concerns and twenty percent had functional concerns. The factors involved in the low satisfaction rate were septal fracture, associated fractures, and multiple fragmentation. Eight percent of the patients who underwent open septorhinoplasty had cosmetic concerns and other eight percent had functional concerns. CONCLUSION: A careful pre-operative evaluation of the type of fracture is important for the treatment of nasal bone fracture. Also, when nasal bone fracture is combined with septal fracture, associated fracture or unilateral fragmentation, open septorhinoplasty has to be considered to reduce secondary deformities and to improve the satisfaction rate of the patients.