[Falk's technic of extranasal dacryocystorhinostomy in cases of tear duct stenoses (author's transl)]

The lacrimal sac is totally sacrificed and rebuilt into an accessory nasal sinus using the extranasal dacryocystorhinostomy in the treatment of nasolacrimal duct stenosis as described by Falk in 1961. Using this method, 62 patients with tear duct stenoses were operated in our clinic since 1959. According to etiology, the stenoses were in 5 cases connatal, in 17 traumatic, in 32 inflammatory and in 8 iatrogenic. In only 4 cases (6,4%) failures were reported. - the operative indication has at present been expanded to include stenosis of the lower tear ducts (presaccal stenosis) or in cases where the lacrimal sac has been obliterated (saccal stenosis). In these cases the stenosis is dissected and a silicon tube (introduced via the tear point into the inferior lacrimal duct and drained into the nose) is left in position.