Traditional Sinus Surgery

Most surgeons do not perform traditional sinus surgery any more. However, there are still indications for the traditional approach. The major indications for traditional sinus surgery include the following:

■ A mucocele (cyst in the sinus) that cannot be treated endoscopi - cally (most mucoceles can be treated with FESS, although some require external surgery)

■ Severe scarring that cannot be removed with FESS

■ Infection that cannot be reached with endoscopic techniques

■ Inverted papilloma (warts of the sinuses) that cannot be treated with endoscopic sinus surgery (limited papilloma can be treated with FESS)

■ Nasal sinus cancer

■ When a surgeon is not comfortable treating the disease with FESS

TRADITIONAL ETHMOID SURGERY

Traditional ethmoid surgery is performed either through the nose or through an external incision on the inner aspect of the eye. Packing is usually required, and stitches are placed in the skin at the inner aspect of the eye to close the incision site. The incision will leave a scar and considerable black-and-blue marks around the eye.

Sinus Tips:

Feeling Better, and Loving It

By following the guidelines I’ve outlined and choosing your surgeon carefully, I believe that you will find significant relief from your sinus problems. Most of my patients repor

AT-HOME CARE

Without a doubt, sinus infections can recur. As mentioned earlier, surgery does not change the way you respond to the environment. At best, your sinuses will be near normal. Patien

BACK IN THE DOCTOR'S OFFICE: FOLLOW-UP CARE

FESS is not over once you leave the operating room. FESS has brought with its development three major advances in the treatment of sinus disease. The first advance is that it has a

Postsurgical Care

You will most likely be feeling, and breathing, much better immediately after your surgery. However, don’t mistake or underestimate the amount of surgery that you have just been

Getting Ready for Surgery

Once you and your ear, nose, and throat (ENT) specialist have exhausted all other medical options, you may be scheduled for surgery. Just like anything else, you need to prepare yo

Image Guidance Surgery

One of the latest improvements in nasal and sinus surgery is the use of image guidance systems. Different companies make instrumentation that can calibrate a computed tomography (C