Arch Craniofac Surg.  2016 Dec;17(4):202-205. 10.7181/acfs.2016.17.4.202.

Comparison Study of the Use of Absorbable Materials as Internal Splints with Airway Silicone Splint and Absorbable Materials as Internal Splints Alone

• Ji SY
• Kim SS
• Park KS
• Baik BS

• KMID: 2364348
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.7181/acfs.2016.17.4.202

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Packing after closed reduction of nasal fracture causes uncomfortable nasal obstruction in patients. We packed the superior meatus with synthetic polyurethane foam (SPF) to support the nasal bone, and packed the middle nasal meatus with a nasal airway splint (NAS) and SPF. The aim of this article is prospectively to compare the subjective patient discomfort of SPF (Nasopore Forte plus) packing alone and SPF with NAS.
METHODS
We compared the prospectively subjective patient discomfort of SPF packing alone (group A) and SPF with NAS (group B) via visual analog scale (VAS; 0, no symptom; 100, most severe symptom).
RESULTS
At first postoperative day group B showed significant lower scores in dry mouth, sleep disturbance, conversation difficulty. However at third postoperative day, VAS scores of each group had no statistically significant differences. Moreover at fifth postoperative day group A had statistically significant lower scores for nasal pain, dry mouth than the group B.
CONCLUSION
Combination method of using NAS and SPF have some advantage on the patient comfort from first postoperative day to third postoperative day.

Keyword

Nasal bone; Airway management; Splints

MeSH Terms

Airway Management
Humans
Methods
Mouth
Nasal Bone
Nasal Obstruction
Polyurethanes
Prospective Studies
Silicon*
Silicones*
Splints*
Visual Analog Scale
Polyurethanes
Silicon
Silicones