Effects of Rhinoplasty on Labyrinthine Function

Abstract

Background Rhinoplasty is a common surgical procedure that is requested and accepted by patients for cosmetic and functional reasons. Osteotomies are performed on nasal bone, maxillary crest, or vomer to fix the deviations of the nasal dorsum or septum. During the percussion of the osteotomes with the surgical mallet, the vibration energy diffuses to the cranium. Auditory and vestibular systems may be affected by these vibrations. Objectives To assess the effects of rhinoplasty, in which osteotomies were performed using a hammer, on the audiovestibular system. Methods Thirty adults who underwent rhinoplasty were included in the study group. Ten age and gender matched adults who had nasal surgery without surgical mallet or osteotome served as the control group. The patients in both groups were assessed using pure tone audiometry, tympanometry, distortion product otoacoustic emission testing, and vestibular-evoked myogenic potential, as well as video head impulse tests (vHIT) before the operation and 1 week after the operation. Results On auditory assessment, there was no significant difference between the study and control groups regarding pure tone thresholds at frequencies of 250 Hz to 8 kHz (P > 0.05) as well as otoacoustic emissions. The vestibular assessment performed by using vestibular-evoked myogenic potential and vHIT did not reveal a statistically significant difference between the groups, before surgery or after surgery (P > 0.05). Conclusions Rhinoplasty appears to be a safe operation in terms of audiovestibular functions, and osteotomy, in which a hammer is usually used, does not have an impact on hearing or balance functions of the ear. Level of Evidence: 2

The Effects of Burr-Assisted Rhinoplasty on Hearing

“…Tekin et al9 investigated the effect of rhinoplasty on the audiovestibular system and showed that classical osteotomy using a hammer did not affect hearing and balance functions. Similarly, İlhan et al8 reported that the vibratory effect of using the piezoelectric technique during a rhinoplasty did not cause hearing loss.…”

“…6 Hearing loss after using burr in otologic surgeries has been reported in 3% to 5% in different series. 7 The literature revealed publications stating that the use of piezo and classical osteotome does not negatively affect hearing 8,9 ; however, there is no publication regarding its relationship with hearing despite the widespread use of burrs in septorhinoplasty, as far as we know. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the difference in hearing after the operation in patients who underwent burr-assisted septorhinoplasty, a technique that is used for dorsal reduction and shaping.…”