Effects of hyaluronic acid on the bone healing after lateral osteotomy: an experimental animal model.

[OBJECTIVE] Postoperative comfort of the patients undergoing rhinoplasty might be poor because of edema and ecchymosis caused by lateral osteotomy. In this animal experiment, we aimed at performing a quantitative assessment of effects of hyaluronic acid usage on healing process of lateral osteotomy.

[METHODS] Fourteen New Zealand rabbits with a weight of 2000-2500 kg and an age of 8-12 weeks were included. Under anesthesia, nasal dorsums were exposed with midline incision and lateral osteotomies on both sides were performed using a 2 mm chisel. A hyaluronic acid-based mesh (Hyalonect) (1 × 1 cm) was embedded on the left osteotomy areas of all rabbits. Right osteotomy areas were left blank as control group. Collagen density and capillary development were quantitatively compared.

[RESULTS] Convergence of fracture lines was observed in 6 (60%) of 10 samples from Hyalonect group, while was observed in 4 (40%) of 10 samples from control group. Although a higher rate of convergence was seen in the Hyalonect group (60% vs 40%), the difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.5). Median collagen score was 2 (1-3) in the Hyalonect group and 1 (1-2) in the control group. Median capillary count value was 4 (1-23) in the Hyalonect group and 3 (1-17) in the control group. Both collagen score and capillary count values were significantly greater in the in the Hyalonect group compared with the control group (p = 0.023 and p = 0.019, respectively).

[CONCLUSION] The effects of hyaluronic acid-based meshes on the bone healing process of the lateral osteotomy area might be investigated furthermore, on more comprehensive studies, as a material facilitating collagen organization and capillary development.