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Objective: Frontal sinus osteomyelitis is a severe complication which can result from chronic rhinosinusitis, trauma, or as a complication of reconstruction or obliteration of the frontal sinus. The objective of the current study is to evaluate the contemporary management of frontal sinus osteomyelitis in light of recent advancements in endoscopic surgical techniques. Methods: Review of a prospectively collected database of patients with frontal sinus pathology was performed from 2008–2020. Data from individuals with frontal sinus osteomyelitis was collected including demographics, etiology, surgical technique, adjunctive medical treatments, complications, and clinical follow up. Results: Sixteen patients (average age 48.3, range 8–84) were included in the study. An open approach was utilized in 6 patients (2 osteoplastic flaps, 3 Reidel procedures, 1 cranialization). Seven patients underwent completely endoscopic approaches (3 Draf IIB, 4 Draf III), while 3 individuals had combined procedures (Lynch with Draf III, osteoplastic flap + Draf III, fistula excision + Draf IIb). All patients received 6 weeks of antibiotics. Average clinical follow up was 24.4 months with no patients requiring revision procedures. Conclusion: Endoscopic, endoscopic-assisted, and open approaches were utilized successfully in the current series of patients with osteomyelitis of the anterior table of the frontal sinus. While the progression of endoscopic techniques allows an additional surgical treatment option, it is important to select patients appropriately as open procedures continue to have an important role in the treatment algorithm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Spontaneous cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) rhinorrhea has been associated with elevated intracranial pressure (ICP). As such, ICP reducing measures are commonly employed to optimize repair. Although postoperative acetazolamide use has been described, no data currently exists on the potential for preoperative use. Methods: A retrospective review was performed including patients treated for anterior spontaneous CSF leaks by a single surgeon over a 6‐year period during which acetazolamide therapy (250 mg twice daily) was employed before considering surgical repair. The primary endpoint was whether the patient went on to require surgical repair. Results: A total of 16 patients were identified who were pretreated with acetazolamide. Leak sites were noted as cribriform (5/16), sphenoid (8/16), ethmoid (1/16), multiple (1/16), and indeterminate (1/16). Five patients had resolution of their rhinorrhea without surgery (31.3%). Mean follow‐up for these nonsurgical patients was 470 days (range, 64 to 857 days). There were no differences in the patients' age or site of leak between surgical and nonsurgical patients (p = 0.65, p = 0.52, respectively). Nonsurgical patients had a lower body mass index (BMI) than surgical patients (p = 0.04). Conclusion: This is the first study to report the use of acetazolamide therapy as a primary treatment option for spontaneous CSF rhinorrhea. This therapy enabled surgery to be avoided in 31.3% of patients. This would indicate that in the absence of other contraindications for delaying repair, a trial of acetazolamide therapy could be considered as an initial option in the management of isolated spontaneous CSF rhinorrhea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]