Where endoscopy fails: indications and experience with the frontal sinus fat obliteration.

BACKGROUND

With the event of angled endoscopes, image guidance and the rapidly improving endoscopic techniques the previously used osteoplastic frontal sinus fat obliteration (ISO) becomes more and more a second line treatment option. The objective of our study is to describe the up-to-date indications for FSO based on our own experience.

METHODS

Retrospective analysis including follow-up visits of 77 patients with frontal sinus fat obliteration at our clinic between 1991 and 2006 was undertaken and descriptive statistics were drawn.

RESULTS

Thirty-six cases were operated by FSO as a first-line treatment, 41 had previous surgery. Eighty percent of all patients showed no postoperative residual complaints. Two patients required revision surgery. General complication rate was 36.4%, however these consisted in the vast majority of cases (90%) of minor complications.

CONCLUSIONS

FSO still remains a valuable operation for specific indications. FSO is the gold standard for repeatedly failed endoscopic procedures. The operation should also target the following indications as a first-line treatment: large/lateral osteomas, malignant disease, lateral mucoeceles, most fractures of the posterior sinus wall with CSF-leak, osteomyelitis, pathologies in small underdeveloped sinuses with narrow floor. It is associated with minimal complications and a good outcome.