Frontal sinus stents

Objectives: The formation of scar tissue, synechiae, or osteogenesis in the narrow frontal outflow tract after instrumentation of the frontal sinus ha s led to attempts to enlarge the frontal duct or stenting. Study Design: Pr ospective pilot study. Results: Sixty-four Freeman frontal sinus stents wer e used to maintain patency in 46 patients. Stents were inserted using an en doscopic technique in 26 sinuses containing polyps, 20 with pansinusitis, a nd 18 cavities with stenosis of the frontal duct. External incisions with f rontal sinusotomy were required to remove the stenosis and insert the stent in nine sinuses. Polypoid degeneration, granulation, purulent drainage, an d lateralization of the middle turbinate were encountered infrequently, Fro ntal obliteration was subsequently required in six sinuses, Conclusion: The Freeman frontal sinus stent prevented blockage of the outflow tract in pat ients who had removal of disease in the sinus or duct or treatment of front al stenosis.