Correlation between Operation Result and Patient Satisfaction of Nasal Bone Fracture.

BACKGROUND: Many authors have evaluated the post-reduction result of nasal bone fracture through patient satisfaction or postoperative complications. However, these results are limited because they are subjective. The aim of this study was to correlate an objective operation result with patient satisfaction and postoperative complications according to the type of nasal bone fractures.

METHODS: Our study included 313 patients who had isolated nasal bone fractures and had undergone a closed reduction. Postoperative outcomes were evaluated objectively using computed tomographic (CT) images, while patient satisfaction was evaluated one month after the operation. The correlation of the operation result with patient satisfaction was then evaluated.

RESULTS: The correlation between the operation result and patient satisfaction was highest for the lateral impact group type I (LI) type of fracture and lowest for the comminuted fracture group (C) type of fracture. However, there were no statistically significant differences in correlation between the overall result and patient satisfaction by fracture type. The complication rate of lateral impact group type II (LII), C, and frontal impact group type I (FI) fractures were statistically significantly higher than that of frontal impact group type II (FII) and LI fractures. There were no statistically significant relationships between the prevalence of complications and septal fracture or deviation according to the fracture type. In the total group, however, there was a statistically significant difference in complication rate by septal fracture.

CONCLUSION: We found that the CT outcomes correlated with patient satisfaction. The complication rate of LII, C, and FI fractures were statistically significantly higher than that of FII and LI fractures. Septal fracture/deviation increased the postoperative complication in the total group.