Impact of intraoperative Cone-Beam Computed Tomography use on patient satisfaction after closed nasal reduction

Background: The aim of the study was to assess, whether there is a difference in aesthetic and functional patient satisfaction between closed nasal reductions with intraoperative Cone-Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) and without using intraoperative medical imaging. Methods: A monocentric, retrospective cohort study of 43 patients (20 patients treated with intraoperative CBCT and 23 patients treated without intraoperative imaging) was conducted. Subjective postoperative aesthetic and functional aspects of the nose were assessed. Additionally, questions comparing the aesthetics and function of the nose before and after the accident and on the desire of revision surgery were asked. Results: Both the SCHNOS-C and total SCHNOS score in the non-CBCT group were higher than the respective scores of the CBCT-group. The comparison of SCHNOS-C between male subjects of the two groups showed no statistical significance. The comparison of SCHNOS-C between male and female subjects over both groups showed significantly higher scores for female subjects. Conclusions: Patients undergoing surgery with intraoperative CBCT imaging showed better aesthetical outcomes than patients, treated without intraoperative imaging. However, the difference showed no clinical importance, so that both strategies appear to have comparable outcomes regarding postoperative aesthetics and function of the nose. Gender instead of the different strategies could contribute to the demonstrated differences. Female subjects seem to be less satisfied with the aesthetics of their nose postoperatively, potentially being more sensitive to remaining nasal deformities after surgery.