Patient aesthetic satisfaction with timing of nasal fracture manipulation

Abstract

Introduction. To determine patient cosmetic satisfaction following nasal fracture manipulation under general anaesthetic when offered at different time intervals after injury. Materials and Methods. Prospective chart review of adult patients with nasal fractures treated by closed reduction at a busy district general hospital in Greater London over a 10-month period. Patients were asked by a standardised telephone interview about satisfaction with nasal cosmesis pre- and postoperatively using a Likert scale. Results. Seventy-six of 106 patients presented for nasal manipulation at up to 9 weeks after injury and were successfully contacted (72%) postoperatively. Forty-nine patients (64%) reported that they still would have had the surgery in retrospect. Those done within 1-2 weeks after injury resulted in the highest mean satisfaction score (4.56 ± 0.25). There was a negative correlation between patient satisfaction and timing of surgery (ρ = -0.37, P = 0.001). Of the patients satisfied or very satisfied with their procedure, 96% had it done within 4 weeks. Conclusion. The majority of patients treated with closed reduction of nasal fractures under general anaesthetic are satisfied with the cosmetic outcome and would still have undergone surgery in retrospect. Increasing time of surgery after 2 weeks resulted in lower patient satisfaction.

Figure 1

Relationship between timing of surgery after injury and patient satisfaction.