Pediatric septorhinoplasty: Current attitudes and practices by facial plastic and reconstructive surgeons.

OBJECTIVE

There is hesitation to offer pediatric patients rhinoplasty due to concerns about postoperative effect on midface growth. A cross-sectional survey of members of the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery was conducted regarding practice information and attitudes towards pediatric septorhinoplasty. The goal of the study is to describe the current attitudes on pediatric septorhinoplasty.

STUDY DESIGN

Cross-sectional survey.

SETTING

Community members of the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery society.

METHODS

A 19-question survey was distributed to surgeons surveying background information and current attitudes towards pediatric septorhinoplasty practices. Fisher's exact tests were implemented using Monte Carlo methods.

RESULTS

There were 94 total respondents. A majority believed septorhinoplasty is safe in patients <16 years of age (n = 68, 72.34 %) with most choosing either 16 years (n = 30, 31.91 %) or 14 years (n = 29, 30.85 %) as the minimum age to consider the procedure. A majority of respondents would not perform any nasal procedures in patients ≤12 years (n = 40, 43.48 %).

CONCLUSION

Trends in pediatric rhinoplasty practices have evolved overtime. Despite prior beliefs and studies cautioning against performing septorhinoplasty in pediatric patients (<16 years of age), a majority of practicing facial plastic surgeons believe that pediatric septorhinoplasty can be performed in patients >14 years old.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

IV.