Sa. Bafaqeeh et Mm. Alqattan, ALTERATIONS IN NASAL SENSIBILITY FOLLOWING OPEN RHINOPLASTY, British Journal of Plastic Surgery, 51(7), 1998, pp. 508-510
Alterations of nasal sensibility following open rhinoplasty were studi
ed both subjectively and objectively. In a prospective study, 25 patie
nts were included. All patients underwent open rhinoplasty using a mid
dle columellar incision. Subjective questioning and objective testing
of nasal sensibility using the Semmes-Weinstein monofilaments were obt
ained preoperatively and both 3 weeks and 1 year after surgery. The ma
tch-paired Student's t-test was used for statistical analysis. At 3 we
eks after surgery, there was subjective and significant objective alte
ration of sensibility in the area of skin supplied by the external nas
al nerve (nasal tip and adjacent upper columella). This altered sensib
ility, however, recovered by 1 year after surgery. The recovery was th
ought to be due either to recovery of the external nasal nerve itself,
or to collateral sprouting from the nerves supplying the adjacent are
as of nasal skin.