title: Double-Blind Comparison of Ultrasonic and Conventional Osteotomy in Terms of Early Postoperative Edema and Ecchymosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Edema and ecchymosis are common complications of rhinoplasty. Modifications to osteotomy may reduce edema and ecchymosis and ameliorate postoperative discomfort in patients who undergo rhinoplasty.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The authors performed osteotomy with conventional instruments or with an ultrasonic device and compared these methods with respect to the severities of ecchymosis and edema in the early postoperative period.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-six patients who underwent primary rhinoplasty with medial oblique, low-to-high internal osteotomy performed conventionally or with an ultrasonic device were evaluated in a prospective study. Photographs of the patients on postoperative days 3 and 7 were scored for ecchymosis and edema by 2 physicians who did not perform the operations and were blinded to the osteotomy procedure.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ecchymosis scores on postoperative days 3 and 7 and edema scores on postoperative day 3 were significantly higher for the 22 patients who underwent conventional osteotomy than for the 34 patients who underwent ultrasonic osteotomy, as scored by both examiners. Edema scores on postoperative day 7 were significantly higher for conventional than for ultrasonic osteotomy as assessed by 1 examiner but were not significantly different as determined by the other examiner.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of this comparative study suggest that rhinoplasty with ultrasonic osteotomy is associated with less edema and ecchymosis in the early postoperative period than is rhinoplasty with conventional osteotomy.
  
  
  METHODS
  3 Therapeutic.
authors.affiliation: Drs Ilhan, Cengiz, and Caypinar Eser are ear, nose, and throat surgeons in private practice in Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: A Emre
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Ilhan
authors.affiliation: Drs Ilhan, Cengiz, and Caypinar Eser are ear, nose, and throat surgeons in private practice in Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Betul
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Cengiz
authors.affiliation: Drs Ilhan, Cengiz, and Caypinar Eser are ear, nose, and throat surgeons in private practice in Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Basak
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Caypinar Eser
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004438:Ecchymosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004487:Edema / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010027:Osteotomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D010781:Photography; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012225:Rhinoplasty / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013525:Surgical Instruments; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014421:Turkey; D059708:Ultrasonic Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation; D055815:Young Adult