Rhinoplasty and External Nasal Splinting: Is It Really a Must?

Abstract

Background:Rhinoplasty is a common and challenging procedure. Lateral osteotomy is routinely performed in most cases. Most of the surgeons have the habit of applying external nasal splints to stabilize the nasal tissues and bone in their new position postrhinoplasty. These splints are widely used despite the absence of any evidence supporting this practice. Moreover, these splints have a lot of disadvantages, so we conducted this study to evaluate the cosmetic result in their absence.Patients and Methods:A retrospective cross-sectional study was performed. Medical records of 211 patients operated on for rhinoplasty by the same surgeon from 2015 to 2017 were reviewed. All patients were operated using open technique. After surgery, a Steri-Strips dressing with an overlying layer of surgical tape was applied to the nose without the use of an external nasal splint. Most of the patients were followed up for 18 months. Complication rates, revision rates, and nasal bone widths were recorded.Results:Complication rates and revision rates were as follows: skin infection 0.99%, skin necrosis 0.99%, and secondary revision 3.48%. Finally 79.60% of patients had a decrease in their nasal bone width postsurgery.Conclusion:Based on the present study, external nasal splinting postrhinoplasty should not be routinely used. Satisfactory cosmetic results can be obtained while avoiding the complications, cost, and bulky dressings associated with external splints.

Our experience with lipofilling in secondary rhinoplasty, into a new era

“…This was consistent with our study, where patients suffered from only a mild edema and ecchymosis that resolved in the coming week of fat filling. On the other side, surgical rhinoplasty presented other complications such as skin necrosis and infection 26 . To note that a secondary surgical rhinoplasty can aggravate the shape of nose and make it more difficult to correct 27 .…”

“…On the other side, surgical rhinoplasty presented other complications such as skin necrosis and infection. 26 To note that a secondary surgical rhinoplasty can aggravate the shape of nose and make it more difficult to correct. 27 Here comes the role of fat filling which can as previously mentioned improve and remodel the scar to ameliorate the outcome with low complication rates.…”

The Use of Postoperative Compression Garments in Plastic Surgery—Necessary or Not? A Practical Review

“… 12 The other three studies reviewed by Khan et al were retrospective case series of rhinoplasty patients who did not receive postoperative splints. 13 – 15 Across 2385 total patients, the collective results demonstrated that splinting was not necessary to achieve desirable aesthetic outcomes. Taken in consideration with the previous study described, the efficacy of compression therapy after rhinoplasty may depend on the method of application, with evidence favoring elastic bandaging over nasal splinting to reduce edema and ecchymosis postoperatively.…”

Intravenous catheter flanges as an external nasal stent: a novel technique

“…Use of various materials like aluminum, Orthoplast 3 , fiberglass 4 , plaster of Paris (POP), polyvinyl siloxane 5 , and thermoplastic materials as nasal splints including three-dimensional (3D)-printed splints 6 have been documented in the literature. Many of these splints are bulky, time-consuming to fabricate, expensive, cumbersome, and have reported incidences of contact dermatitis and epidermolysis 7 . Moreover, these splints can be maintained only for a short duration and cannot be retained if the situation warrants prolonged stabilization and immobilization.…”