Incidence, patterns, and management of frontal sinus fractures

Objectives: To assess the prevalence of various frontal sinus fractures (FSF) and examine the relationships between these fractures, types of treatments, and potential complications. Methods: A retrospective study was carried out in King Saud Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. lhe study analyzed the records of patients who were diagnosed and treated with FSF from 2011-2021. Files with missing documents or incomplete treatment were excluded. lhe retrieved data includes: patients age, gender, types, locations, treatment, and complications of FSF. Data was analyzed by the statistical Package for the Social Sciences Statistics, version 23.0 using descriptive statistics and Chi-square test. Results: A total of 72 cases were included, 94.4% males and 5.6% females. Road traffic accidents were the common cause of trauma (91%). Frontal sinus fractures were unilateral in 59.7% and associated other injuries in 80.6% of cases. Anterior table fractures were the largest proportion (58.3%), followed by anterior and posterior table (37.5%). lhe carried out surgical procedures were obliteration (23.9%), cranialization and obliteration (23.9%), and fixation only (52.2%). lhe post -operative complications were categorized into; neurological (22.2%), ophthalmic (15.3%), infection (2.8%), and deformity (16.7%). Anterior and posterior table had the highest percentage among these categories. Conclusion: Frontal sinus fractures were mostly required surgical treatment (63.9%) and post -operative complications occurred especially the neurological and ophthalmic. We recommend studies on the association of complications and different types of obliteration materials.