Outcome of frontal sinus obliteration

To evaluate the indications, technique, and results after long-term follow-up of osteoplastic frontal sinusectomy with fat obliteration.

A retrospective review of a series of consecutive patients using objective and subjective outcome assessment.

A retrospective chart review was conducted of all patients undergoing osteoplastic flap procedure with obliteration between July 1, 1991, and July 1, 1997. Each patient also completed a symptom questionnaire rating the degree of symptoms both before and after surgery using a 10-point scale. The results were tabulated and analyzed for statistical significance.

Twenty osteoplastic flap procedures to obliterate the frontal sinus were reviewed. The average patient age was 41 years, with the average duration of follow-up being 40.2 months. No surgical failures were noted; one patient underwent a negative reexploration. One surgical and one medical complication are reported. Statistically significant improvement was noted in overall symptoms, headache, congestion, drainage, and frequency of infections when the preoperative to the postoperative symptom scores were compared (P < .001).

Based on these results, the use of the osteoplastic flap in the obliteration of the frontal sinus continues to be an option in the era of endoscopic treatment of frontal sinus disease, particularly in endoscopic failures and chronic frontal sinus pain.