Nasal Trauma: Age-Related Features

Annotation. This study aims to explore the age-related features of nasal trauma. The nose, protruding from the facial contour, often becomes the focal point of traumatic injuries. Treatment of these injuries is complex and requires extensive experience in otolaryngology, maxillofacial surgery, and, particularly, plastic surgery. For six years, 72 patients with nasal injuries were treated. The causes of injury were: dog bite – 6 (8.3%), cat bite – 2 (2.8%), human bite – 1 (1,4%), injury by a sharp object (knife, glass) – 38 (52.8%), injury by a blunt object (board, stick, rebar) – 25 (34.7%). Reconstructive surgeries aimed at closing nasal defects were performed on the first day of hospitalisation in 61 (84.7%) of the patients. Surgical interventions for the remaining 11 (15.3%) patients were postponed for 4-5 days due to signs of inflammation, which were addressed before the surgeries. In cases of large nasal defects, a rotation flap from the forehead (Indian technique), flaps from the wing and tip of the nose (French technique), and the upper third of the nose dorsum (Barrow technique, with excision of two supraorbital triangles) were used. Defects in the cartilage of the nasal wings and tip indicated the use of composite (skin-cartilage) flaps (from the ear bowl). Postoperative complications occurred in 7 (9.7%) patients: wound dehiscence – 4 (5.6%), seroma – 2 (2.7%), and wound infection – 1 (1.4%). The duration of hospital stay ranged from 1 to 8 days (average length of stay – 3.2 days). After discharge, patients continued treatment in outpatient settings near their place of residence. Nasal trauma is a complex issue in otolaryngology, maxillofacial, and particularly plastic surgery. A characteristic feature of paediatric patients is prolonged psycho-emotional stress; however, the treatment proceeds without complications and achieves good aesthetic results. The most compliant patients for treatment are adults, with good results and possible minor complications. Postoperative complications are most common in elderly and geriatric patients, associated with involutional processes in the skin, especially its blood supply.