Comparative evaluation of nasal sensibility alteration following rhinoplasty with open and close approaches

The aim of this study was to evaluate alteration in nasal sensibility following rhinoplasty with open approach and compared it with the close approach. In this prospective study, 50 patients who underwent either open rhinoplasty using a V shape incision (n= 25) or closed approach (delivery approach) (n=25) were included. All patients underwent. Subjective questioning and objective testing of nasal sensibility using validated neurological Sensibility tests were obtained preoperatively and 3 weeks and 1 year after surgery. The match-paired student's t-test was used for statistical analysis.At 3 weeks after surgery, there was a subjective and significant objective alteration of sensibility in the area of skin supplied by the external nasal nerve (nasal tip and adjacent upper columella). This altered sensibility, however, recovered by 1 year after surgery.There are no differences in nasal sensibility post rhinoplasty with open and close approach in long term of 1 year. The recovery was thought to be due either to recovery of the external nasal nerve itself, or to collateral sprouting from the nerves supplying the adjacent areas of nasal skin.