Abstract
Purpose: The nasal bone fracture is most common fracture in facial bone injuries. Regardless of the severity or type of fracture, closed reduction has traditionally been the common method of treatment. However, through detailed pre-operative evaluation, we found out that many patients consider rhinoplasty prior to trauma due to aesthetic desire or nasal deformity with or without septal deviation. In treatment of nasal bone fracture, we focused not only on the fracture management but also on the patients' desire prior to trauma, and we made additional operation according to patients' desire with fracture reduction and gained rewarding outcomes. Methods: From March 2005 to June 2007, total 263 patients were treated for nasal bone fracture. Among these patients, 57 patients (21%) had the additional operation with nasal fracture reduction. The additional operations were categorized in three types: augmentation rhinoplasty with tip plasty (40%), septoplasty only (16%), corrective rhinoplasty (44%). The mean follow-up period was 5.6 months and results were evaluated by scoring. Results: Forty four of 57 patients (77%) were highly satisfied regardless of any additional operation kinds. The complications were one septal perforation, two displacement of implant and four remnant nasal deformities. For the septal perforation, no further management was performed because we lost the contact with the patient. Then 4 of the other complicated patients were revised. Conclusion: In general, many physicians tend to consider nasal fracture as a simple trauma. However through the strict history taking, physical examination and professional counseling, we could catch the patient's cosmetic desire and get the eyes on new concept: the nasal fracture is not only a trauma but a cosmetic and functional field. In the treatment of nasal bone fracture, if additional rhinoplasty is performed, patients will be more satisfied and we also can expect higher profits.
