Frontocele: Experience from a resource challenged environment

Abstract

Background: Frontocele commonly occurs as a result of obstruction in the outflow tract of the frontal sinus and this may be due to both congenital and acquired factors. Management involves the use of open, endoscopic or combined approaches with varying success and complication rates. Objective: This retrospective study highlights our experience with the management of frontocele in a resource challenged environment. Methods: A seventeen year retrospective analysis of all patients managed in our department was undertaken. Information was sourced from patient’s case notes and operating theatre records. Data were analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 16 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA) and Microsoft Excel 2007 (Microsoft, Redmond, WA, USA). Results: A total of 17 patients were managed within the years reviewed. Males accounted for 52.9% of the patients and ocular presentation was the commonest clinical presentation. Plain radiography alone was used in 76.5% of patients for assessment and bicoronal incision provided access to the frontal sinus in 88.2% of patients. Of the 17 patients managed, 1 (5.9%) patient died 24h postoperative while 2 (11.8%) patients presented with recurrence 1year and 3years postoperatively respectively. Conclusion: The tendency for patients in our environment to present with extensive disease and to default in their postoperative follow-up appointment may favor a more radical approach in the management of frontal sinus mucocele.