Reposition of nose fractures under local or general anaesthesia. A retrospective patient satisfaction survey

INTRODUCTION: Nose fractures are the most common among facial fractures. A well-approved treatment of isolated nose fractures is closed reposition under local or general anaesthesia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study included 150 patients who were treated with closed reposition for simple and isolated nose fracture at the Otorhinolaryngology Department of Odense University Hospital during the period 1 January 2003 until 31 December 2004. The case records were retrospectively examined and the patients were sent a questionnaire and were offered outpatient follow-up. RESULTS: The most frequent cause of damage was violence. The average interval from trauma to treatment was 4.1 days. 60% of the patients filed cosmetic results equal to or better than before fracturing the nose regardless of the anaesthetic procedure, while 69% of the patients experienced the function of the nose as equal to or better than before. CONCLUSION: The majority of nose fractures are treated under local anaesthesia. A follow-up at least 1 year later found no difference between patient satisfaction of cosmetic and functional results of the nose, regardless of whether they had local or general anaesthesia. In general, the patients were satisfied with the anaesthesia, whether it was local or general.