Closed reduction of the isolated anterior frontal sinus fracture via percutaneous screw placement

Fractures of the frontal sinus are a common maxillofacial trauma and constitute 5-15% of all maxillofacial fractures. Conventional surgical approaches include the coronal flap, direct cutaneous incision, and endoscopic techniques. Minimally invasive techniques have recently been described for the reduction of the isolated anterior frontal sinus fracture via a closed approach. The medical records and radiological findings of all patients who underwent surgical treatment for anterior frontal sinus fractures from January 2009 to December 2013 at the study hospital in Florence, Italy, were reviewed. The final study sample consisted of 15 patients (13 males and two females) with isolated anterior frontal sinus fractures who were treated with closed reduction using percutaneous screws. The mean age was 32.1 years. The skin incisions healed without any visible scarring, and no depressions of the frontal sinuses were evident in the postoperative period. Computed tomography scans performed at 6 months postoperatively showed adequate reduction of the displaced fragments. This closed technique is a good option for displaced isolated fractures of the anterior frontal sinus. However, the technique is not adequate for complex fractures of the frontal sinus.