A K Mishra1, V R Sinha1, A Nilakantan1, D K Singh1. 1. Department of Otorhinolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery,Army Hospital (Research and Referral),Delhi,India.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: A non-surgical approach for managing rhinosinusitis associated with chronic oroantral fistula resulting from tooth extraction was evaluated. METHODS: Twenty-six consecutive patients (15 males and 11 females) aged 28-72 years (mean, 49.81 years) were administered local decongestion therapy for 2 weeks and antibiotics for 10 days. Patients showing a reduction in Sino-Nasal Outcome Test 22 scores after two weeks continued to receive local decongestion therapy weekly for up to six weeks, while those not showing any improvement underwent surgical management. RESULTS: At 2 weeks, 17 patients (65.38 per cent) showed an improvement in rhinosinusitis (33.39 per cent mean reduction in Sino-Nasal Outcome Test 22 scores). The primary determinant of response was fistula size. At 6 weeks, sinusitis resolved completely in all 17 patients, and the fistula closed in 16 of these. Final Sino-Nasal Outcome Test 22 and Lund-Mackay scores showed no significant difference between the surgically treated and non-surgically treated groups. CONCLUSION: Local decongestion therapy along with antibiotics may promote resolution in this subset of rhinosinusitis patients.
OBJECTIVE: A non-surgical approach for managing rhinosinusitis associated with chronic oroantral fistula resulting from tooth extraction was evaluated. METHODS: Twenty-six consecutive patients (15 males and 11 females) aged 28-72 years (mean, 49.81 years) were administered local decongestion therapy for 2 weeks and antibiotics for 10 days. Patients showing a reduction in Sino-Nasal Outcome Test 22 scores after two weeks continued to receive local decongestion therapy weekly for up to six weeks, while those not showing any improvement underwent surgical management. RESULTS: At 2 weeks, 17 patients (65.38 per cent) showed an improvement in rhinosinusitis (33.39 per cent mean reduction in Sino-Nasal Outcome Test 22 scores). The primary determinant of response was fistula size. At 6 weeks, sinusitis resolved completely in all 17 patients, and the fistula closed in 16 of these. Final Sino-Nasal Outcome Test 22 and Lund-Mackay scores showed no significant difference between the surgically treated and non-surgically treated groups. CONCLUSION: Local decongestion therapy along with antibiotics may promote resolution in this subset of rhinosinusitis patients.