The frontal sinus unobliteration procedure.

Although intranasal frontal sinusotomy can now be performed for most cases of chronic frontal sinusitis, the osteoplastic frontal sinus procedure with obliteration, unfortunately, still is considered by many to be the standard for chronic frontal sinusitis against that which other frontal sinus procedures are judged. Unobliterating the previously obliterated sinus is indicated for patients with evidence of frontal sinus pathology on CT or MR images and for patients with chronic symptoms with equivocal radiologic results. The reopened frontal sinus can be reventilated and remucosalized, or reobliterated with the placement of a new fat graft. Complete or partial auto-obliteration by new bone formation or fibrosis is another possible endpoint that can result when unobliteration is attempted.