ENDOSCOPIC DRILL-ASSISTED DACRYOCYSTORHINOSTOMY

With the introduction of endoscopes for endonasal surgery, there have been an increasing number of endonasal dacryocystorhinostomies (DCR) p erformed. The advantages of the endonasal approach include the avoidan ce of an external facial scar and reduced risk of damage to the medial canthal ligament. We described our experience with the use of the Hal l Osteon drill for endoscopic DCR. This procedure has been found to be technically reliable giving satisfactory post-operative results in 16 patients suffering from nasolacrimal duct obstruction. The follow up was up to 12 months with a mean of 5 months. Three patients who had re sidual post-operative epiphora were considered as failures. There were no major complications and minor complications included one case of p eriorbital ecchymosis, one unretrieved silicone tube and a minor vesti bule abrasion. The preliminary results suggest that the endoscopic dri ll-assisted DCR could offer a reliable treatment in patients with epip hora due to nasolacrimal duct obstruction.