Osteoplastic obliteration of the frontal sinuses. A review of 100 patients

One hundred consecutive osteoplastic frontal sinus operations were reviewed. The obliteration of the frontal sinus was achieved by natural bony obliteration instead of by operative fat obliteration. The operation was performed for 6 cases of trauma, 13 cases for an osteoma, 56 cases for frontal sinusitis without previous frontal sinus surgery and 25 cases for frontal sinusitis with previous frontal sinus surgery. Headaches were the presenting chief complaint of all cases, and 93 of them had some degree of frontal sinusitis. Localized osteomyelitis of the frontal sinus was present in 42 cases. Although 85 patients were completely satisfied with the results of the operation, 15 continued to have frontal headaches. Complete bony obliteration of the frontal sinus occurred in 93 cases. The seven patients who had incomplete bony obliteration of the frontal sinus are being followed closely for signs and symptoms of recurrent frontal sinus disease.