[Dacryocystorhinostomy in adolescents and young adults]

To study the relative frequency, causes, anatomical and functional outcomes and complications of dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR) in patients between the second and fifth decade of life.

A retrospective, nonrandomized, interventional study of a clinical series of 12 patients who underwent DCR from March 2007 to March 2009, performed by a single surgeon, with an age range between 10 and 48 years. Recorded data included age at surgery, date of surgery, gender, affected side, cause of obstruction, surgical technique, outcome and complications. The relative frequency of such cases over the total was calculated.

DCR in patients between 13-48 years old represented 14.11% of the total (12:85). In this group 88.8% were females and in 75% surgery was on the right side. The most frequent cause of obstruction was low idiopathic obstruction (58.33%) whereas 41.66% were secondary. An external DCR was performed on 66.67% of patients and the rest were endonasal DCR. Anatomical success was achieved with resolution of symptoms in 91.6% of patients. One case had a hypertrophic scar.

Adolescents and young adults represent a significant percentage of cases undergoing DCR surgery. Both the external and endoscopic approach is shown to be a valid alternative for treating these patients, with good results and low incidence of complications.