[Foreign body in paranasal sinuses]

All cases of the last 5 years requiring foreign bodies to be removed from the paranasal sinuses were investigated as to causes, special aspects in diagnostics and therapy, occurrence of pathologic germs and possible sequels.

68 cases were evaluated: 43 patients were male, 25 female. Average age was 29 years in males and 37 years in females.

In our patients foreign bodies in the paranasal sinuses were in more than 60% the result of medical or dental procedures followed by industrial accidents (25%). The maxillary sinus was affected in 75%, the frontal sinus in about 18%. Involvement of the ethmoid or sphenoid sinus was rare. The spectrum of pathologic microbes was dominated by mixed infections, the share of actinomyces and aspergillus was unexpected high. Most important acute complications were bleeding, compression of the optic nerve and liquorrhoe. Late complications consisted mainly of pain--often associated with disturbances of sensibility- and infections.

A smear should be taken whenever the foreign body remained in the sinus for more than 4 days. Foreign bodies jammed in the posterior wall of the sinus require a sufficiently open view since the risk of heavy bleeding is especially high.