Introduction
Nasal osteotomies are commonly performed in rhinoplasty. Two of the most frequently used instruments are the guarded lateral osteotomes and piezoelectric instrumentation (PEI). One method of assessing rhinoplasty results is to measure outcomes using validated questionnaires, or patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs).
Objectives
To assess the effect of conventional osteotomes and PEI on patient-reported outcome measures.
Methods
A retrospective cohort study performed on primary open rhinoplasty. Patients were divided into two groups according to technique used for nasal osteotomies. Fifteen cases were performed with conventional guarded osteotomes, and 15 were performed with PEI. Their preoperative and postoperative Standardized Cosmesis Health Nasal Outcomes survey (SCHNOS) scores, visual analog scale, functional (VAS-F) and cosmetic (VAS-C), were analyzed and compared.
Results
Thirty patients with an average age (SD) of 27.1 (8.99) years. Six men (20%) and 24 women (80%). The PEI group's mean follow-up period (PO) was 50.33 (12.13) days as opposed to conventional group's 32.77 (14.74) days. For patients managed with conventional osteotomes, all PROMs were statistically significant with the exception to SCHNOS-O. For those performed with PEI, only the cosmetic outcomes demonstrated a statistically significant change (SCHNOS-C & VAS-C). SCHNOS-C exhibited a statistically significant difference between groups when postoperative PROMs were compared. VAS-C displayed a significant change in mean between preoperative and postoperative total PROMs values in both groups.
Conclusion
On a short term follow up, no significant change is evident in regard to functional outcomes between both groups. While the SCHNOS-C scores has better results in those treated with PEI.