Sinus Surgery
Structural abnormalities of the face can result in chronic or recurring sinusitis – ask your ENT specialist about surgery to address the symptoms.
Sinusitis happens when the hollow spaces inside your skull – forehead, between the eyes, behind the nose, and cheekbones – become swollen and inflamed. This can prevent mucous from draining properly, which causes the nose to become stuffy. Sinusitis becomes chronic if symptoms persist for 3 months or longer, so consult an ENT specialist to discuss treatment options.
Sinusitis can affect both adults and kids
The condition has several causes, such as:
- Infection due to bacteria, fungi or viruses
- Polyps, which are growths on the lining of the sinuses
- Allergies
- A deviated septum, that is, a crooked wall between your nostrils. Most people are born with a slightly deviated septum but it seldom results in problems. For others, it can result from injury.
Consult a doctor when symptoms persist or recur
Common symptoms include:
- A stuffy or blocked nose
- Thick white, yellow or green discharge from the nose
- Pain in the teeth
- Pain or pressure in the face, especially when you bend forward
- Fever
- Cough
- Pressure in the ear
- Headache
- Weakened sense of smell
- Bad breath
- Tiredness
Pain and discomfort can last – and worsen other conditions such as obstructive sleep apnoea – until symptoms clear up. Although rare, untreated sinusitis can lead to meningitis, a brain abscess, or an infection of the bone.
The treatment for sinusitis depends on the cause(s). A doctor can diagnose if yours is:
- Acute (lasts less than 4 weeks)
- Subacute (lasts 4 to 12 weeks)
- Chronic (lasts more than 12 weeks)
- Recurrent acute (occurs 4 or more times a year, each lasting less than 2 weeks)
While sinusitis can be treated with antibiotics, decongestants or nasal sprays, surgery may become necessary for some
If sinusitis is due to structural issues such as a deviated septum or polyps, an ENT specialist may recommend surgery. Nearly 75% of people who don’t respond to medical therapies find symptom relief with surgery.
By enabling mucous to drain better, the following procedures can help to relieve symptoms:
- Functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS)
By widening the drainage passages between your nose and your sinuses, and removing bone or infected tissue.
- Balloon sinuplasty
A minimally invasive treatment where a small balloon is inflated to broaden the passageway to your sinuses.
- Caldwell Luc surgery
Here, a new opening from your maxillary sinus (it’s behind your cheek) to your nose is created.
