Objective: The goal of this study was to investigate how patency of the nasofrontal outflow tract would affect frontal sinus healing in the setting of displaced, comminuted, posterior table fractures in the adult goat (Capra hircus).
Study design: Prospective animal study.
Subjects and methods: Posterior table fractures were created in 20 adult goats. The nasofrontal outflow tract was left patent in 10 goats (Group 1) and obstructed in 10 (Group 2). Gross, radiologic, and histologic evaluation were carried out six months postoperatively.
Results: One of nine subjects subjects (11%) in Group 1 developed a mucocele while eight of 10 (80%) in Group 2 developed mucoceles (P = 0.004). No subjects (100%) in Group 1 had gross, radiologic, or histologic evidence of mucosal ingrowth into the posterior table, while two of 10 (20%) in Group 2 showed evidence of mucosal ingrowth into, but not through, the posterior table. In both groups 100% of the subjects had gross and histologic evidence of intact posterior tables abutting the dura.
Conclusion: An occluded nasofrontal outflow tract leads to an increased mucocele formation rate at six months. In an unobstructed nasofrontal outflow tract there is no gross, radiologic, or histologic evidence of mucosal ingrowth into the posterior table at six months. These findings would suggest that not all comminuted, significantly displaced posterior table fractures need to be surgically addressed if the nasofrontal outflow tract is patent.