Indirect open reduction through intercartilaginous incision and intranasal Kirschner wire splinting of comminuted nasal fractures.

The majority of nasal fractures have been managed by using closed reduction and intranasal packing. In comminuted nasal fractures, open reduction and internal fixation may be indicated for accurate reduction and rigid fixation, but it is a very aggressive procedure. We developed a new technique for comminuted nasal fractures: indirect open reduction and intranasal Kirschner wire splinting. A periosteal elevator is used to elevate the mucoperiosteum posterior to the nasal bone through intercartilaginous incision and to reduce accurately the nasal bone, at the same time detecting the fracture lines. The Kirschner wire is used to insert between the nasal bone and the mucoperiosteum and to splint rigidly the nasal bone. During the follow-up period of 5 weeks to 4 months, 23 of 27 patients (85 percent) had successful cosmetic results. Four patients had slight cosmetic deformity but did not request a late rhinoplasty. Nineteen patients had accurate reduction on a computed tomography scan. Ten patients had undercorrection of the nasal septum on a computed tomography scan, and three patients had significant septal deviation with airway obstruction. Indirect open reduction through intercartilaginous incision and intranasal Kirschner wire splinting is a reliable and useful method for the treatment of comminuted nasal fractures because it achieves accurate reduction and rigid, long intranasal support, can be done comfortably under local anesthesia, permits early nasal breathing postoperatively, has no external scar, and minimizes complications such as nasal bleeding, soft-tissue injury, infection, and recurrent displacement.