[Application of frontal sinus optical probe in endoscopic frontal sinus surgery].

OBJECTIVE: To discuss the application of frontal sinus optical probe in endoscopic frontal sinus surgery. METHOD: The clinical data of 58 adult patients (86 sides) suffering from chronic frontal sinusitis were analyzed retrospectively. The patients received endoscopic frontal sinus surgery with frontal sinus optical probe because of difficulty in confirming ostia under endoscope. All cases were followed up post operation to evaluate the efficacy. RESULT: The ostia of frontal sinus were successfully opened with this method in all cases, and no serious intracranial or orbital complication occurred. After 6 to 18 months follow-up postoperatively, the symptoms vanished in 51 cases and improved in 7 cases and none of all recurred. The endoscopic examinations showed well opening of frontal sinus ostia. CONCLUSION: Localization of frontal ostium with frontal sinus optical probe is a simple, convenient, safe and effective accessorial method for revision endoscopic frontal sinus surgery.