Indications, technique and results of endonasal endoscopic ethmoidectomy.

Endoscopic ethmoid sinus surgery was introduced in Erlangen in 1976. Posterior-to-anterior ethmoidectomy under the optical control of a 70 degrees telescope with a suction-irrigation handpiece was established for treatment of chronic-diffuse hyperplastic paranasal sinusitis. This technique complements partial resections of the ethmoid. The different procedures are applied depending upon the extent of the disease. The indication for endonasal endoscopic surgery was expanded with practical experience. Diseases of the nasolacrimal duct and the frontal sinus, the frontal skull base as well as the orbita often proved to be accessible for endonasal surgery. A survey of the technical aspects of endoscopic ethmoid surgery and an introduction of the extended range of indications are presented together with the results of each procedure.