Third window approach assisted middle meatal antrostomy: prospective cohort study of the two ports technique in management of hard to reach maxillary sinus pathology.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to assess the outcomes of a prelacrimal recess approach assisted middle meatal antrostomy in the management of hard to reach maxillary sinus pathologies.

METHOD: Twenty-five patients with maxillary sinus pathology underwent prelacrimal recess approach assisted middle meatal antrostomy (with a prelacrimal recess width of more than 3 mm). Patients were prospectively evaluated using both the Arabic version of the Sino-Nasal Outcome Test-22 and nasal endoscopy at least 6 months post-operatively.

RESULTS

Our study included 25 maxillary sinuses (13 with antrochoanal polyps, 10 with maxillary fungal ball and 2 with a migrated part of a tooth). At a mean follow-up period of 10.9 months, all patients showed significant improvement in total mean Sino-Nasal Outcome Test-22 score. There was recurrence of one case with antrochoanal polyp and two cases with asymptomatic synechia. Injury to the nasolacrimal duct was not reported.

CONCLUSION

A prelacrimal recess approach assisted middle meatal antrostomy is a reliable and safe technique to manage pathologies in hard to reach regions within the maxillary sinus.