Experience in the management of frontal sinus fractures

International guidelines for frontal sinus fractures, dealing with the indication of surgical treatment, obliteration of the frontal sinus, drainage, and cranialization, may differ.In this work, we describe our experience with frontal traumas, analyzing indications, type of treatment, and outcomes by reviewing all data of 112 patients treated for frontal fractures at the Department of Maxillo-Facial Surgery, Università degli studi di Roma Sapienza.We reviewed all clinical and surgical records of patients with traumatic frontal injury treated from 1997 to September 2008. Patients presenting displaced fractures of the anterior wall of the frontal sinus were treated through skin laceration, if existing, or through a coronal approach and fixed with rigid internal devices. Patients with fracture of the posterior wall of the frontal sinus underwent frontal sinus cranialization with galea pericranium pedicled flap to prevent eventful septic complications.Follow-up controls documented that 98 of 112 patients showed no neurologic impairment, no symptoms of cerebrospinal fluid leak, and no other complications after 6 months and 1 and 5 years when follow-up was possible.In the international literature, there is wide agreement about indications dealing with displaced fractures of the anterior wall, although there is a lively debate about posterior wall treatment. In our 10-year experience, the protocol we carried out showed satisfying outcomes, in particular, on the morphofunctional recovery and aesthetic results.