Possible complications of frontal sinus fractures after conservative or surgical treatment: retrospective study.

Abstract

Background: Frontal sinus fractures are rare. Although they can manifest as isolated fractures, they mostly occur as a part of larger panfacial injuries of the facial bones.

Objective: Considering the relative rarity of this type of fracture, we decided to perform a retrospective analysis of patients with this type of injury at our institution, focusing on post-injury complications.

Material and methods: We retrospectively evaluated 26 patients with frontal sinus fracture (isolated or as a part of a complex injury to the facial skeleton) treated and subsequently followed up at our institution between 2016 and 2022.

Results: The most common complication was trigeminal nerve hypersensitivity, occurring in 7 patients (47% of patients with any complication). All patients with this complication were treated conservatively. Four patients developed cerebrospinal fluid leak, of which three were treated conservatively and one surgically. Four more patients developed a deformity, of which 3 patients underwent surgery and one was treated conservatively.

Conclusion and significance: The therapeutic goal is to restore the conditions of the mucosa and to preserve the drainage of the frontal sinus.