Complications of Rhinoplasty

Abstract

All surgical procedures have a possibility for complication. The percentage of complication of nasal surgeries falls around 4-18.8%. As the surgeon gains more experience, this rate tends to decrease. The complications of skin and related soft tissue take place in almost 10% of cases. Rhinoplasty is estimated to be associated with severe systemic or life-threatening complications in 1.7-5% of all cases. The clinical features of the complications are categorized as functional, infectious, aesthetic, and psychological. The complications of rhinoplasty may be evaluated in four main categories according to the time as intraoperative, immediate postoperative (in the recovery ward), early postoperative, and late postoperative. Specific complications are other categories, which may be discussed in rhinoplasties. These are functional disturbances, transplants and implants, skin and soft tissue complications, and postoperative deformities. During medial osteotomy, if the cephalic fracture is made higher in the thicker part of the frontonasal junction, “Rocker” deformity may be created. The failure in the alignment of the lateral segments with the septal dorsum after osteotomies may result in a visually and palpably noticeable gap, called as “open-roof” deformity. “Step” deformity can be seen if one of the lateral osteotomies is made medial to the nasofacial groove, with a ridge visibly seen on that side of the nose. The osteotomy can be repeated at the appropriate level to correct this deformity.