Clinical Consideration of Uncinectomy for Endonasal Dacryocystorhinostomy

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effects of uncinectomy for osteotomy method during endonasal dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR). METHODS: This retrospective review study comprised 102 nasolacrimal duct obstruction patients that underwent endonasal dacryocystorhinostomy with uncinectomy at our hospital between 2003 and 2006. The patients were classified into two groups based on records of preoperative endoscopic examination. Group A consisted of patients who had no nasal cavity abnormality, and Group B comprised patients who had a nasal cavity abnormality but received no treatment. RESULTS: Sixty-four patients were included in Group B. The success rates of endonasal DCR were 89.5% in Group A and 90.6% in Group B, with no statistically significant difference between the two groups (p>0.99). There were no cases of mucosal burn, orbital fat prolapse, spinal fluid leak, maxillary sinusitis, or delayed bleeding. CONCLUSIONS: Anterior resection of the uncinate process is the most important surgical step to expose the medial aspect of the lacrimal fossa and to form the precise location of osteotomy during endonasal dacryocystorhinostomy.