Efficacy of Nostril Supportive Splint Treatment for Nasal Septum Deformities after Le Fort I Osteotomy

Abstract

This retrospective study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of support splint treatment for deformities and deviations of the nasal septum after Le Fort I osteotomy (LFI). Patients were divided into two groups: the retainer group wore a nasal support splint immediately after LFI for 7 days, and the no retainer group did not wear a nasal support splint. Evaluation was performed by measuring the ratio of the difference between the left and right sides of the nasal cavity area (ratio of nasal cavity) and the angle of the nasal septum using three computed tomography frontal images (anterior, middle, and posterior) before and one year postoperatively. Sixty patients were included and divided into two groups, the retainer and no retainer group (n = 30 each). Regarding the ratio of nasal cavity on middle images at one year postoperatively, the retainer and no retainer groups differed significantly (0.79 ± 0.13 and 0.67 ± 0.24, respectively; P = 0.012). The angle of the nasal septum on anterior images at one year postoperatively was 164.8 ± 11.7°in the retainer group and 156.9 ± 13.5°in the no retainer group, showing a significant difference (P = 0.019). This study suggests that support splint treatment after LFI is effective in preventing post-LFI nasal septal deformation or deviation.