BACKGROUND

Osteotomy is one of the major steps in rhinoplasty. The aim of study was to compare edema and ecchymosis after external and internal lateral osteotomy in patients who underwent rhinoplasty.

METHODS

Based on a prospective randomized clinical trial, 168 osteotomies were performed through an external route in a perforating fashion and internal route in a continuous fashion at right or left side respectively in any patient. Subjective scoring system was applied to evaluate edema and ecchymosis on 1^st, 3^rd, 7^th, and 30^th days after surgery.

RESULTS

Edema and ecchymosis were the same in both types of osteotomies.

CONCLUSION

Regarding edema and ecchymosis, there was not any significant difference between external and internal osteotomies in rhinoplasty.