[Endoscopic resection of the frontal sinus floor following the Draf procedure: long term results and therapeutic algorithm].

OBJECTIVES

Endoscopic resection of the frontal sinus floor is a minimally invasive and functional surgical procedure designed for the treatment of inflammatory sinus diseases, which avoids the side-effects of external osteoplastic obliteration. The aim of the study was to evaluate long term results and to determine computed tomographic criteria predictive of success.

PATIENTS AND

METHODS

Our study reports the results of 20 patients operated for nasofrontal stenosis associated or not with osteitis or secondary mucocele.

RESULTS

A successful result was obtained in 90% with a mean follow-up of 3.5 years. Failures (2) were attributed to insufficient resection and to frontal sinus osteogenesis.

CONCLUSION

Endoscopic frontal sinusotomy is a safe and effective procedure for large sinuses with large distance between nasion and cribriform plate, but not in case of osteogenesis and multiple mucoceles. In case of unfavourable anatomy, or for the aforementioned pathologies, the obliteration procedure should be preferred.