Long-term results of ethmoid surgery.

This paper investigates the results of nonendoscopic intranasal ethmoid surgery on 146 patients who were followed up for 6 to 13 years. These patients are divided into four groups: 1) infection without allergy, 2) infection with allergy, 3) infection with polyps and no allergy, and 4) infection with polyps and allergy. These groups are evaluated as to the long-term results of surgical treatment with or without concurrent allergic desensitization. The great majority of patients benefited from the surgical treatment regardless of their allergic status. Postoperatively, the allergic patients had more subjective symptoms than those having only infection. A major conclusion was that the long-term benefit to the patient as a result of the operation performed by experienced hands does override the potential risks of ethmoid surgery.