Abstract

This study was performed to investigate the incidence, types of fracture, treatment, associated fracture and complications in patients with nasal bone fracture. Materials and methods: Clinical examination, patient’s records and radiographic images were evaluated in 230 cases of nasal bone fractures who were treated at the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Chonnam National University Hospital for recent 5 years; from January 2002 to December 2006. Results: 1. The age of patient was ranged from 4 to 77 years (mean age=36.6 years); Males was 75.7% (n=174), and females 24.3% (n=56). 2. The cause of the nasal bone fracture in this study was a fall or slip down (28.8%, n=66), sports accident (26.0%, n=60), fighting (21.3%, n=49), traffic accident (9.6%, n=22), industrial trauma (7.8%, n=18), and the others (6.6%, n=15). 3. For the patterns of fracture, simple fracture without displacement occured in 10.4% (n=24). Simple fracture with displacement without septal bone fracture was found in 49.5% (n=114). Simple fracture with displacement in company with septal bone fracture showed in 32.6% (n=75). Comminuted fracture with severe depression was presented in 7.4% (n=17). 4. The reduction the displaced nasal bone was carried out in 2 to 10 days (mean 6.8 days) after the injury. 5. Nasal bone fracure associated with Le Fort I fracture (6.5%, n=6.5), Le Fort II fracture (7.4%, n=17), Le Fort III fracture (1.3%, n=3), NOE fracture (13.9%, n=32), ZMC fracture (17.4%, 40), maxillary bone fracture (8.3%, n=19), orbital blow-out fracture (15.7%, n=36), frontal bone fracture (1.3%, n=3) and alveolar bone fracture (10.9%, n=25). 6. The major type of treatment method was closed reduction in 90% (n=207), open reduction in 3% (n=7), and observation in 7% (n=16). 7. There were some complications such as ecchymosis, hyposmia, hypo esthesia and residual nasal deformity which are compatible. Open rhinoplasty was conducted for 3 patients who had residual nasal deformity. Conclusions: These results suggest that most of nasal bone fractures are occurred physically active aged groups(age 10-49 years) and could be treated successfully with closed reduction at 7 days after the injury.