An Integrated Silicone Splint and Nostril Retainer for Postoperative Rhinoplasty Care: The Tezel Splinting Technique.

Authors

Erdem Tezel, Şeyda Güray

Published in

The Journal of craniofacial surgery. Oct 02, 2026. Epub Oct 02, 2026.

Abstract

Rhinoplasty procedures involving septal reconstruction and lower nasal third deformities may require simultaneous support of the septum, external nasal valve, and nostril contour during the early postoperative period. However, concurrent use of conventional intranasal silicone splints and nostril retainers may be limited by the available intranasal space. This study describes the Tezel Splinting Technique, a technical modification that integrates a commercially available nostril retainer with an intranasal silicone splint to provide simultaneous postoperative support. A retrospective consecutive series of 127 patients who underwent primary, secondary, tertiary, post-traumatic, or cleft-related rhinoplasty between 2023 and 2025 was reviewed. The integrated system was maintained for 7 days in 98 patients (77.2%) and for 10 days in 29 patients (22.8%). Asymmetric nostril retainer sizing was required in 34 patients (26.8%). The technique was successfully assembled and applied in all patients and remained stable throughout the intended splinting period without unplanned early removal. Transient nasal airway obstruction occurred in 12 patients (9.4%) because of a reduction in the effective internal diameter of the splint airway and resolved after removal of the integrated system. No major device-related complications were observed. The Tezel Splinting Technique provides a practical method for combining septal stabilization and lower nasal third support within a single postoperative construct. This clinical series demonstrates its technical feasibility and short-term clinical applicability across a heterogeneous rhinoplasty population without establishing comparative efficacy over conventional postoperative splinting methods.

PMID:
42825331
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 02 Oct 2026.

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