Factors that Influence the Periorbital Edema and Ecchymosis After Open Septorhino-Plasty

Abstract

Background and objectives: Septorhinoplasty is one of the most common plastic surgical procedures. Periorbital edema and ecchymosis following rhinoplasty are disturbing for both the patient and the surgeon. The aim of this study was to assess and to compare the effect of different factors and procedures on periorbital edema and ecchymosis after rhinoplasty. Methods: The study involved 104 patients, with 4 equal groups. The first group (standard) with external osteotomy and nasal packing, the second group with internal osteotomy and nasal packing, the third group with external osteotomy, nasal packing and steroid injection and the last group with external osteotomy without nasal packing. Results: there was a significant decrease of edema and ecchyomsis in those patients that had undergone external osteotomies than an internal osteotomies on the first and on the seventh postoperative day, there was also a significant decrease in edema and ecchymosis in patients that received dexamethasone injection, in contrast nasal packing was found significantly increasing the severity and duration of periorbital ecchymosis post rhinoplasty. Edema was disappearing in most of patients after 7 days postoperatively, in the first group (61.5%), a second group (61.5%), a third group (73.1%), and the last group (76.9%). Conclusions: This study concluded that; external osteotomy and steroid injection were associated with decreased incidence of edema and ecchymosis postoperatively, while there was an icreased incidence with anterior nasal packing.