Abstract
Fixation of the cartilaginous vault is an important maneuver in preservation rhinoplasty
to reduce hump recurrences. This paper presents a cartilaginous vault fixation technique
with a barbed suture. Forty-six patients who underwent closed-approach high-septal-resection
dorsal preservation rhinoplasty between August 2019 and March 2020 were included in
this retrospective study. According to the cartilaginous vault fixation sutures applied,
the patients were divided into two main groups as follows: (1) barbed suture and (2)
conventional suture. Standardized postoperative 1-month lateral view photographs were
scanned for the presence of any degree of hump recurrence. The Rhinoplasty Outcome
Evaluation (ROE) scale was applied at 12 months. Hump recurrence was detected in one
patient in the barbed suture group (n = 21) and one patient in the conventional suture group (n = 25; p > 0.05). For the ROE scores and number of satisfied patients, no statistically significant
difference was found between the barbed and conventional suture fixation techniques
(p > 0.05). Fixation with barbed suture showed similar results to conventional suture
fixation. Barbed sutures can be used for cartilaginous vault fixation, taking advantage
of the ease of placement in closed rhinoplasty. This study reflects level of evidence
IV.
Keywords
dorsal preservation rhinoplasty - barbed suture - patient satisfaction
