[Functional endoscopic ethmoid bone revision in inflammatory paranasal sinus diseases in childhood].

A total of 57 children aged between 5 and 15 years underwent endoscopic ethmoid surgery for recurrent acute or chronic rhinogenic sinusitis, chronic sinusitis associated with bronchial asthma or chronic bronchitis, early rhinogenous orbital complications and paranasal sinus disease associated with mucoviscidosis. The indications for surgical intervention are based on symptoms, the findings on nasal endoscopy and a CT scan of the paranasal sinuses in the coronal plane. The preoperative examination shows that in childhood there are endoscopically detectable anatomical variations of the ethmoid bone (pneumatised middle nasal concha, reversed curvature of the middle turbinate and contact between the uncinate process and the turbinate) that create the conditions for the development of inflammatory paranasal sinus diseases. Careful elimination of these obstructions can accomplish complete cure of the inflammation, and early orbital complications can be treated effectively by combination of surgery with infusion of antibiotics. All surgery was performed under endotracheal anaesthesia using the endoscopic technique described by Messerklinger. The follow-up period was between 6 and 18 months. With the exception of children suffering from mucoviscidosis, cure of the paranasal sinus disease and rhinomanometrically demonstrable improvement of the nasal breathing was achieved in all cases. On the basis of our results a conservative endoscopic approach is recommended as an effective surgical method for the treatment of paranasal sinus disease in childhood.