Objective:
To measure the intra-sinus pressure and the maxillary sinus functional efficiency (MSFE) in individuals with chronic facial pain after conservative or conventional endoscopic maxillary surgery, as well as in controls.
Method:
Sinus manometry was performed 5 times during inhalation.
Results:
The resemblance of pressure values comparing those treated with minimally invasive surgery and controls was remarkable, while traditional surgery significantly decreased intrasinusal pressures. The MSFE was 100% in the three tested times for controls, close to that in those submitted to minimally invasive surgery (98.3%, 98.8%, and 98.0%) and significantly impaired after conventional surgery (48.8%, 52.1%, 48.5 %, p<0.01). All patients submitted to minimally invasive surgery remained pain-free after three months of surgery, relative to 46.7% of the submitted to conventional surgery (p<0.05).
Conclusion:
Minimally invasive sinus surgery is associated with functionality of the chambers that resemble what is found in normal individuals.
facial pain; nasal cavities; manometry, biophysical model; endoscopic surgery