[Dacryocystorhinostomia externa. Technique, indications and results]

In a retrospective study on the years 1978-1989, the data we obtained on 1014 operative procedures of external dacryocystorhinostomy at the University Eye Hospital in Münster showed an age distribution of 2-93 years with a maximum in the 5th to the 7th decade (average 53.2 years) and a sex relationship of 61% females and 39% males. In the etiology of dacryostenosis, 60% of the patients had recurrent chronic dacryocystitis, 32% history of acute dacryocystitis, 7% facial trauma and less than 1% of the cases (n = 5) tumor diseases. The functional success rate was 85% in a postoperative follow-up period of 1-11 years (average 35.6 months). No serious intra- or postoperative complications were seen.