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Optimizing Treatment of Nasal Fractures
Author(s) -
Staffel J. Gregory
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
the laryngoscope
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.181
H-Index - 148
eISSN - 1531-4995
pISSN - 0023-852X
DOI - 10.1097/00005537-200210000-00001
Subject(s) - septoplasty , medicine , reduction (mathematics) , surgery , cartilage , nose , randomized controlled trial , anatomy , geometry , mathematics
Objectives/Hypothesis A graduated protocol involving closed reduction, septoplasty, osteotomies, upper lateral cartilage release, anterior perpendicular plate fracture, and camouflaging cartilage grafts yields a higher percentage of straight noses in cases of acute fracture than treatment with closed reduction alone. Study Design Retrospective chart and literature review followed by a prospective, non‐randomized sequential trial. Methods Closed reduction was performed on 26 cases of acute nasal fracture and the results were compared with a subsequent series of 79 cases treated using a more complete protocol. Results The cases treated with the more complete protocol yielded straighter noses. The difference was statistically significant using Wilcoxon rank sum analysis at the P = .028 level. Conclusions Treatment of the acutely fractured nose involving an individually tailored protocol of closed reduction, septoplasty, osteotomies, release of the upper lateral cartilages, fracture of the anterior extension of the perpendicular plate of the ethmoid, and camouflaging cartilage grafts yields straighter noses than treatment by closed reduction alone.