Review of Patient Outcomes Following Nasal Fracture Reduction Under Local Anaesthesia Versus General Anaesthesia

The aim of this study article is to better understand patient outcomes following simple nasal fracture realignment, comparing outcomes when performed under LA versus GA. A systematic search of the evidence base is conducted. Data extraction and documentation are performed in keeping with PRISMA guidance. Critical appraisal tools are applied to aid quality assessment and assessment of bias. Twelve articles were selected for inclusion in this review, accumulating 2405 participants in total. No significant difference in patient outcomes between the LA and GA groups was observed. There was high variation in article quality, with some assessed as having a high risk of bias. Although some methodological limitations and outcome heterogeneity between studies hamper our ability for direct comparison, it seems likely that patient outcomes after nasal fracture correction under LA versus GA are comparable. Further large-scale studies with an agreed set of outcome measures are required to understand this relationship more fully.