Surgery of the lateral nasal wall and ethmoid: effects on sinonasal growth - An experimental study in rabbits

Objective: To assess the impact of lateral nasal wall surgery on sinonasal growth Methods: Twenty young New Zealand White rabbits, 6 weeks of age, were included in this experimental study. Surgery was performed on two groups of ten animals each (series I and II). Entrance to the left nasal cavity is achieved through the nasal dorsum via mobilization and rotation of the left nasal bone. Series I: partial resection of the lateral nasal wall (including the ostium to the maxillary sinus) on the left side. Series II: partial resection of the lateral nasal wall and anterior ethmoid. Follow-up period was 20 weeks. Twenty rabbits served as controls. Results: In series I, all skulls have grown normally. In series II the nasal dorsum has also developed symmetrically. Snout length and growth of upper jaw are normal; there is no malocclusion. Three skulls show a slight deviation of the nasal dorsum (two to the left, one to the right). Morphometric measurements of 20 points on the skulls show no significant difference between the control group and the experimental series I and II. Conclusion: This experimental study demonstrates that visually controlled partial resection of the bony sinonasal wall, with or without resection of the anterior ethmoid does not affect later development of nose and upper jaw on condition that eventually underlying cartilage is preserved. Contradictory results from other experimental studies, previously published and concerning negative effects of sinus surgery, might be attributed to surgical traumatization of intranasal cartilage structures, in particular, the upper lateral cartilages. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.