Quantitative impact of pediatric sinus surgery on facial growth

Objective/Hypothesis: To quantitatively evaluate the long-term impact of si nus surgery on paranasal sinus development in the pediatric patient, Study Design: Longitudinal review of eight pediatric patients treated with unilat eral sinus surgery for peri-orbital or orbital cellulitis with an average f ollow-up of 6.9 years. Control subjects consisted of two groups, 9 normal a dult patients with no computed tomographic evidence of sinusitis and 10 adu lt patients with scans consistent with sinusitis and a history of sinus-rel ated symptoms extending 60 childhood, Methods: Application of computed tomo graphy (CT) volumetrics, a technique allowing for precise calculation of vo lumes using thinly cut CT images, to the study and control groups, Results: Paired Student t test analyses of side-to-side volume comparisons in the n ormal patients, patients with sinusitis, and patients who had surgery revea led no statistically significant differences, Comparisons between the orbit al volumes of patients who did and did not have surgery revealed a statisti cally significant increase in orbital volume in patients who had surgery. C onclusions: Only minimal changes in facial volume measurements have been fo und, confirming clinical impressions that sinus surgery in children is safe and without significant cosmetic sequelae.