[Efficacy of combined modality therapy for intractable difficult-to-treat rhinosinusitis]

To investigate the clinical effects of the combined modality therapy for the patients with difficult-to-treat rhinosinusitis (DTRS).

The clinical data involving 42 patients with DTRS were analyzed retrospectively. All patients received revision endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) and combined modality therapy systematically and individually. The clinical effects of all patients were observed 6- and 12-month following revision ESS.

Forty-two patients were followed up for 6 months, whereas 35 patients were followed for 12 months post operation. VAS scores of the patients significantly improved (P < 0.01) 6- and 12-month after revision ESS, but there was no statistic difference (P > 0.05) between 6- and 12-month post operation. Moreover, Lund-Kennedy scores by endoscopy significantly improved (P < 0.01) 6- and 12-month following ESS. Similarly, there was no statistic difference (P > 0.05) between 6- and 12-month postoperatively. Additionally, within 6 months follow-up, 16 of 42 patients (38.1%) were cured, 19 of 42 patients (45.2%) were improved, and 7 of 42 patients (16.7%) were ineffective. The total effective rate in all patients was 83.3% 6 months postoperatively. While within 12 months follow-up, 11 of 35 patients (31.4%) were cured, 15 of 35 patients (42.9%) were improved, and 9 of 35 patients (25.7%) were ineffective. Hence, the total effective rate in 35 patients was 74.3% after 12-month follow-up. There was no statistic difference (χ² = 1.019, P > 0.05) between 6- and 12-month postoperatively.

Appropriate revision ESS plus the combined modality therapy has been proven to be an effective method for the treatment of DTRS. The clinical effects in this study are significant and stable, and thus it is worthy of further clinical applications.