Steroids for Rhinoplasty: Pain, Nausea, Edema and Ecchymosis

Plain-language summary

This study will be a prospective randomized study to evaluate the effect of medrol dosepaks (oral corticosteroids) on postoperative outcomes among patients undergoing rhinoplasty by Facial Plastic Surgeons at Vanderbilt. Outcomes will include postoperative pain, nausea, and patient experience, with secondary outcomes of swelling and bruising. Methylprednisolone is an oral corticosteroid that has been shown in multiple RCTs and is used extensively that it can significantly reduce postoperative swelling and bruising in postoperative rhinoplasty patients, however, we have not examined if those effects extend to their pain ratings, nausea, and overall patient experience. Current research on use of steroids in rhinoplasty suggests that its use may decrease pain and nausea and benefit the patients overall experience. Minimizing complications for any surgery is of upmost importance for surgeons.. However, the benefits of oral corticosteroid use for rhinoplasty patients in the immediate post-operative period are poorly understood and practice patterns vary widely. To identify and quantify the benefits and drawbacks of oral corticosteroid use in the immediate post-operative period for primary rhinoplasty patients, pain, swelling, nausea, patient experience, and post-operative swelling will be studied.

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