Qualitative Terms Used In Rhinoplasty: A Scoping Review -Toward Establishing a Bridge Between Qualitative Terminology and Quantifiability.

Background: Rhinoplasty is one of the most commonly performed aesthetic surgical procedures. Both patients and surgeons rely on qualitative descriptors such as "plunging nose," "bulbous tip," or "twisted nose" to describe nasal features. Despite their frequent use, there is limited standardization of these terms and their correlation with objective measurements.

Methods: A scoping review was conducted following the PRISMA-ScR guidelines. The study searched three electronic databases (PubMed/MEDLINE, Ovid/MEDLINE, and Web of Science) for English language articles published between 1949 and 2021. Qualitative descriptors and semi-quantitative and quantitative measures were extracted and categorized.

Results: A total of 459 studies were included, comprising retrospective studies (272), prospective studies (38), technical descriptive articles and literature reviews (180), and letters to the editor (5). Qualitative terms were recorded 23.5% (237/1007) of the time, semi-quantitative terms 16% (162/1007), and quantitative descriptions 57% (578/1007). The most commonly described nasal features were the tip (20.8%), dorsum (13.2%), and alar base (12.3%). Measurement techniques varied, with photography being the most common (60%), followed by surgeon assessment (20.3%) and 3D imaging (5.4%).

Conclusions: This review highlights a gap in the correlation between qualitative rhinoplasty descriptors and quantitative analysis. Standardization and integration of objective measurement tools may enhance clinical communication and surgical planning.

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