NASOFRONTAL DUCT RECONSTRUCTION WITH SILICONE-RUBBER SHEETING FOR INFLAMMATORY FRONTAL-SINUS DISEASE - ANALYSIS OF 164 CASES

The authors reviewed their experience in reconstructing the nasofronta l duct with thin silicone rubber sheeting in patients who had chronic inflammatory frontal sinus disease. The 164 patients were divided into four groups, The patients in group 1 had the traditional modified Lyn ch procedure, while those in group 2 had certain technical variations of the modified Lynch operation. The patients in the other two groups had major technical variations: those in group 3 had a primary osteopl astic flap approach and those in group 4 had revisions of failed osteo plastic flap with fat obliteration operations. Surgical indications in cluded mucopyocele (87 patients), chronic frontal sinusitis (71 patien ts), osteomyelitis (2 patients), acute sinusitis (2 patients), and sub acute sinusitis (2 patients), Follow-up averaged 47 months, At their l ast clinic visit, 157 patients (96%) were asymptomatic. Forty-six revi sion procedures were performed in 30 patients (18% of initial cases), There were no major complications. Nasofrontal duct reconstruction usi ng thin silicone rubber sheeting is technically straightforward, safe, and effective.