Power-Assisted Preservation Rhinoplasty: Experience in 97 Consecutive Cases

Taglialatela Scafati S, Russo R, D'Angelo D, D'Alessio M, Riccardi F, Göksel A.

PubMed 41211956 Publisher (DOI)

What this paper says

In 97 consecutive dorsal preservation rhinoplasties done entirely with powered instruments, the complication rate was 8.5%, bruising lasted about six days, and the breathing score rose by a small but statistically significant margin.

Overview

Dorsal preservation lowers the bridge without removing it. The authors used only powered instruments for this work: high-speed diamond burrs, reciprocating rasps and microsaws. They reviewed 97 primary cases operated between January 2021 and January 2024, open and closed approaches included, and scored function and appearance with the RHINO scale at 6 and 12 months.

Sections of note

Retrospective series, 97 primary dorsal preservation patients, single practice.
Instruments: high-speed diamond burrs, reciprocating rasps, microsaws; no hand chisels reported.
RHINO scale score for breathing during sleep rose from 3.87 to 4.15, a mean gain of 0.28, p = 0.01.
Bruising lasted a mean 5.6 days under age 30 and 6.8 days above it.
Overall complication rate 8.5%; revision rate described as low but not given as a number.
No major intraoperative complications.
The authors name the absence of a control group and a homogeneous patient population as the main limits.

What it means for a patient

Powered instruments are presented as a way to shape bone with more control, including through the closed approach with no external scar.
The measured breathing gain is small and comes from a single-arm series, so it cannot be credited to the powered tools alone.
Bruising figures give a realistic recovery expectation of roughly a week.

Why this paper matters

Preservation rhinoplasty is being redefined around what tools cut the bone. This series sets out one all-powered approach with a complication rate. The comparison the field needs, powered against piezoelectric against traditional chisels, is called for by the authors but not performed here.

Terms

Dorsal preservation rhinoplasty: lowering the bridge by repositioning it rather than cutting the hump off.
Diamond burr: a rotating abrasive tip used to shave bone.
Reciprocating rasp: a powered file that moves back and forth to smooth bone.
Piezoelectric instrument: an ultrasonic tool that cuts bone while sparing soft tissue.
RHINO scale: a patient-reported score covering breathing and appearance after rhinoplasty.

Summary written by rhinoplasty.cc from the abstract, 2026-09-09; not medical advice. The authors' own abstract follows.

From the abstract

“Powered tools (PTs) are emerging as effective instruments in preservation rhinoplasty, offering enhanced precision for reshaping both bone and cartilage. This study was performed to evaluate clinical outcomes and share key technical aspects from the exclusive use of PTs in dorsal preservation rhinoplasty. Methods: A…”

Excerpt; the full abstract is on PubMed.