Abstracts in head & neck surgery

• Publisher: Wiley (John Wiley & Sons)
• Year: 1986
• Weight: 398 KB
• Volume: 8
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0148-6403
• DOI: 10.1002/hed.2890080615

✦ Synopsis

Dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR) is reported to have only fair results in the pediatric age group. A tendency to vigorous scar tissue growth, along with poorly defined and rapidly changing anatomy are felt to contribute to the outcome. The authors report their experience with 29 primary pediatric DCRs and five reoperations. (Patients ranged in age from l to 17 years.) They report that "strict attention to surgical anatomy" allows attainment of results (83% patency) comparable with those in adults in traumatic and atraumatic cases. The surgical technique, results, and evaluation of failures are discussed. Meticulous suturing of anterior and posterior flaps is not required for good surgical results. DCR is also a successful therapeutic modality in chronic dacryocystitis due to childhood dacryostenosis when medical therapy, probing, and silicone intubation have been unsuccessful.

It is important for the head and neck surgeon dealing with pediatric trauma to recognize the availability of this technique or to be able to perform it acutely or secondarily in facial trauma cases.