Are the Splints Placed in the Inside of the Nose or the Outside?

This depends on what you have performed during surgery. In general, internal nasal splints are placed following a septoplasty. If external work is performed, a hard nasal cast will be placed on the outside of the nose for the following reasons:1) To keep the nose in its new shape2) To protect the nose during the initial healing periodI hope this information helps, and good luck!

External splints are routinely used after rhinoplasty surgery to reduce swelling, stabilize the nasal bridge and protect the nose for the first week after nasal surgery.  If work is not done on the nasal bones a splint may not be required.  There are a number of external splints available depending on surgeons preference.  splints can be made from plaster,  metal or  plastic.  Internal splints can be useful to hold the septum in position during the healing period.  Internal splints are not routinely required but are useful in certain cases.

     There are external and internal splints, and the application of these is based upon procedures performed and surgeon preference.

 

 

Kenneth Hughes, MD

Los Angeles, CA

If you had a rhinoplasty -- especially if the surgeon has to "break" the bones and reposition them, a splint will be placed on the outside of the nose to stabilize the new shape during the first week following rhinoplasty.  If you had a septoplasty, many surgeons will  put internal splints against both sides of the septum to influence the curvature of the septum during the initial healing and to prevent blood from collecting where the septum was worked on.  However, most facial plastic surgeons will use what's called a "quilting stitch" to close the space left following the septoplasty, thereby obviating the need for internal splints.

Tape and an external cast are placed on the OUTSIDE of the nose in order to stabilize the bones in a rhinoplasty and to minimize soft tissue swelling.  Soft, flexible silicone splints may be used on the INSIDE of the nose whenever significant work is performed on the septum, or if there are tissue adhesions from the septum to the turbinates/nasal sidewall and we want to prevent the growth of obstructive scar tissue inside the nose.   

 In our practice, splints are only used when there is a previous large adhesion inside the nose and were trying to prevent a recurrence after it has been lysed.  Internal nasal splints or packing are not used  in our practice. We do place a cast( splint) on the outside of the nose one osteotomies are performed.

The answer can be both.  An external splint or cast helps support the external nose especially if the nasal bones were worked upon.  Internal splints are used by many rhinoplastic surgeons if septal work is done as part of the rhinoplasy to support the septum while healing

Great question! 100% of cases use an external splinting. In 30% of my cases I use internal silicone splinting. 

A nasal splint is almost always paled on the outside of the nose after rhinoplasty to help with swelling and keep in the infractured bones in place. Internal splints are used sometimes for septal deviations that are corrected.

Frequently an external splint, or at least delicate tapes, are used to minimize swelling and hold the nasal bones in proper position. Internal splints can be used to keep the airway splinted open following a procedure to improve your breathing. Both types of splints are typically removed 5-7 days following surgery. I hope this answer is helpful for you.

Stephen Weber MD, FACS

Lone Tree Facial Plastic Surgeon