Nasofrontal duct reconstruction with silicone rubber sheeting for inflammatory frontal sinus disease: analysis of 164 cases.

The authors reviewed their experience in reconstructing the nasofrontal duct with thin silicone rubber sheeting in patients who had chronic inflammatory frontal sinus disease. The 164 patients were divided into four groups. The patients in group 1 had the traditional modified Lynch procedure, while those in group 2 had certain technical variations of the modified Lynch operation. The patients in the other two groups had major technical variations: those in group 3 had a primary osteoplastic flap approach and those in group 4 had revisions of failed osteoplastic flap with fat obliteration operations. Surgical indications included mucopyocele (87 patients), chronic frontal sinusitis (71 patients), osteomyelitis (2 patients), acute sinusitis (2 patients), and subacute sinusitis (2 patients). Follow-up averaged 47 months. At their last clinic visit, 157 patients (96%) were asymptomatic. Forty-six revision procedures were performed in 30 patients (18% of initial cases). There were no major complications. Nasofrontal duct reconstruction using thin silicone rubber sheeting is technically straightforward, safe, and effective.