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Sinuses are the hollow spaces in the frontal bone and in the cheek bone that warm up the inhaled air prior to going to the lungs. The ethmoid sinus, one of the paranasal sinuses, is the collective name for the ethmoidal air cells. Each ethmoid sinus is an air-space enclosed within the ethmoid bone. The ethmoidal air cells consist of numerous thin-walled cavities situated in the ethmoidal labyrinth and completed by the frontal, maxilla, lacrimal, sphenoidal, and palatine bones. They lie between the upper parts of the nasal cavities and the orbits, and are separated from these cavities by thin bony laminæ. Anatomically, ethmoidal sinuses can be classified as the anterior, middle, and posterior ethmoid sinuses. * The posterior drains into the superior meatus under cover of the superior nasal concha; sometimes one or more opens into the sphenoidal sinus. * The middle drains into the middle meatus of the nose on or above the bulla ethmoidalis. * The anterior drains into the middle meatus of the nose by way of the infundibulum. Sinus ailments come about when the sinus cavity gets backed up. The failure of the cilia to block the pollutions in the air that one would inhale results to swollen passageways out of the sinus. Entrapped bacteria in the sinus compartments can cause very serious illnesses. Ethmoid Frontal Sinusitis Frontal sinusitis occurs from the inflammation of either frontal or ethmoid sinuses. If not treated promptly, frontal sinusitis can lead to meningitis. If your frontal sinusitis does not significantly resolve within a day or so, frontal sinuses may need to be drained via sinus surgery. How does Frontal Sinusitis Occur? Due to the fact the frontal sinuses drain into the nose through ethmoid sinuses, any obstruction or blockage of the ethmoid sinuses usually causes frontal sinusitis (inflammation of frontal sinuses). This results in impaired mucosal drainage. Impaired flow of mucosal secretions within the frontal sinuses hampers the mucociliary function, and results in mucus build-up within the frontal sinuses. Accumulation of mucosal secretions inside the moist, warm and dark sinuses promotes growth of infectious agents. Frontal sinusitis may be caused by a variety of reasons including: Blockage/infection of ethmoid sinuses Bacterial/viral infection of the sinuses Mucosal edema Polyps Tumors Septal deviation Traumatic injury. Frontal sinusitis symptoms may include: Severe frontal headache Periosteal edema Osteomyelitis Meningitis Intracranial abscess Nasal congestion Nasal discharge Severe cough Facial swelling Facial Pain Tooth ache Diagnosis of Frontal Sinusitis often includes the following: Careful review of patient's history Sinus aspiration Bacterial culture CT scans and Radiographs. The treatment of frontal sinusitis usually starts with a complete course of antibiotic therapy. It may also involve the use of medications, ranging from antihistamines and mucolytic agents, to different kinds of antibiotics and corticosteroids. Frontal sinusitis cases refractory to conservative treatment can be considered for a surgical intervention including procedures such as: functional endoscopic sinus surgery or FESS (a minimally invasive surgical remedy for frontal sinusitis), trephination, external frontoethmoidectomy (Lynch approach, Killian approach, Reidel method, and Lothrop/Chaput-Meyer technique), osteoplastic frontal sinus procedure, and endoscopic frontal sinus procedures. Frontal Sinusitis Prognosis: Even though the use of FESS endoscopic surgery offers promising results, the overall prognosis of frontal sinusitis sinus disease primarily depends on varying underlying causes. Consult a qualified medical practitioner if you suspect lung disease. To learn more about sinusitis and treatment options, go to www.sinusdynamics.com.
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