INCIDENCE OF FRONTAL SINUSITIS FOLLOWING PARTIAL MIDDLE TURBINECTOMY

The role of partial middle turbinate resection as an adjunct to endosc opic sinus surgery is controversial. Recent literature suggests that m iddle turbinate resection may have a detrimental effect on the frontal sinus. A retrospective analysis of 155 consecutive patients undergoin g partial middle turbinate resection utilizing the technique of the se nior author (J.A.D.) for either sinusitis or nasal obstruction was con ducted. The data reveal a low rate of frontal sinusitis following part ial middle turbinectomy (10%). None of the patients undergoing partial middle turbinectomy for nasal obstruction developed frontal sinusitis postoperatively. No major complications were encountered. Frontal sin usitis following middle turbinectomy was often associated with preoper ative comorbidity such as asthma, nasal polyps, severe disease score o n computed tomography, or diseased middle turbinates. The authors conc lude that partial middle turbinectomy for treatment of sinusitis and n asal obstruction has a low incidence of postoperative frontal sinusiti s. Development of frontal sinusitis may be predictable on the basis of several comorbid factors.