Frontal Sinus Surgery
Frontal sinus surgery is an endoscopic surgery aiming to eradicate any blockages in your sinuses while ensuring that no structural damage occurs to your frontal sinuses.
Your surgeon also aims to ensure minimal or no cosmetic deformity during the procedure.
Surgical procedures for frontal sinuses are considered particularly difficult because of their location and complex anatomy.
Medical specialists should be sought for diagnosis and treatment.
SYMPTOMS OF FRONTAL SINUS DISEASE
Symptoms of frontal sinus disease can include:
- Nasal congestion
- Nasal drainage
- Repeated sinus infections
- Decreased sense of smell
- Frontal headache
- Vision changes
- Deformity of the eye or forehead
WHEN FRONTAL SINUS SURGERY MIGHT BE NEEDED
The frontal sinuses are located above the eyes and behind the forehead. These sinuses typically drain mucus into the nose through a narrow passageway between the base of the skull and the eye. These sinuses can be affected by a variety of diseases, including:
- Inflammatory diseases
- Nasal polyps
- Bacterial or fungal infections
- Benign or malignant tumors
- Structural problems of the sinuses themselves
TREATMENT
You may need to have a CT Scan to help the physician determine the most effective course of treatment.
There are a variety of surgical techniques that have been developed to treat the frontal sinuses, including anterior ethmoidectomy, balloon sinuplasty, endoscopic frontal recess dissection, and more advanced endoscopic and external techniques.
The surgical technique used to treat the frontal sinus is usually dictated by the specific disease affecting the sinus and will be discussed with you prior to surgery. The physician will be happy to discuss these surgical options and answer any questions you may have.
Because of the difficulty in treating these sinuses, revision surgery is sometimes required for relief of symptoms.