Treatment of Nasal Bone Fracture without Nasal Packing

Lee, Dong Chan; Eun, Seok Chan; Heo, Chan Yeong; Baek, Rong Min; Minn, Kyung Won

Abstract

PURPOSE: The majority of nasal bone fractures have been managed by routine procedure of closed reduction, intranasal packing or intranasal Kirschner wire (K-wire) splinting. But it leaves rooms for many complaints from patients such as pain, rhinorrhea and nasal obstructioon. Another option is, of course, no packing at all. The study was initiated to assess the necessity to pack or splint the nasal bone after routine closed reduction.
METHODS
We analysed the medical records of 35 patients with nasal bone fracture who were operated by closed reduction in the last 2 years. We evaluated the postoperative CT scan scores and external deviation criterias 1 month after the operation.
RESULTS
The postoperative deviation criteria and postoperative CT scan score were favorable and there were no serious complications using this technique.
CONCLUSION
The present study demonstrates that the use of packing or splinting need not be routine in the majority of cases. The risks and discomforts associated with these procedures can often be avoided.