COMBINED ENDOSCOPIC INTRANASAL AND EXTERNAL FRONTAL SINUSOTOMY

We review our experience treating patients with medically refractory f rontal sinusitis that could not be relieved with endoscopic intranasal surgery alone. Fourteen combined external and intranasal endoscopic f rontal sinusotomies were performed on a consecutive sample of 11 patie nts presenting over a 38-month period of study. Postoperative results were classified as cured, improved, unchanged, or worse, based on pati ent symptoms and physical findings. At a mean postoperative follow-up of 19 months (range 4-36), 100% of these patients had benefited from t his technique (7 cured, 4 improved, 0 unchanged, 0 worse). There were no major complications and natural sinus physiology was preserved. We conclude that a combined external and endoscopic intranasal frontal si nusotomy is an effective alternative to frontal sinus obliteration.