Facial skeletal growth after endoscopic sinus surgery in the piglet model

This study examined the effects of varying degrees of endoscopic sinus surgery on the growing midface and snout in pigs. In this randomized, controlled experiment, thirty 40-60 pound pigs were placed in five experimental groups: (1) unilateral uncinectomy; (2) bilateral uncinectomy; (3) unilateral uncinectomy, anterior ethmoidectomy, maxillary antrostomy; (4) bilateral uncinectomy, anterior ethmoidectomy, maxillary antrostomy; (5) unoperated controls. Animals were killed after 3 months and growth was assessed, according to linear and spatial measurements of multiple craniofacial regions. Euclidean distance matrix analysis showed significant restrictive shape alterations in a linear fashion in groups 1-4 (p < .05). These alterations occurred in the surgical field of the snout, midsnout, and maxilla. Endoscopic sinus surgery causes significant restrictive effects in the growing porcine facial skeleton.