[Surgery of the ethmoid by the extranasal approach. Techniques]

The extranasal approach to the ethmoid sinus allows good visualisation of lesions in contrast with endoscopy which provides limited visualisation and needs special optical and microscopie instrumentation. The extranasal approach may be achieved via the maxillary sinus by incision in the upper gingivolabial area and resection of the anterior wall. The lateral edge of pyriform aperture and the intersinuso-nasal wall can be resected. An other approach can be achieved by resecting a large area of nasal, maxillary and malar bone. The cutaneous incision is paralateronasal or cranial bicoronal. By a large and bilateral upper gingivolabial incision it is possible to use of nose Degloving approach to the ethmoid.