Guns n' Noses: Endoscopic Removal of an Air-Gun Pellet Retained in the Frontal Sinus

Endoscopic endonasal retrieval of air gun pellet retained in the frontal sinus: A case report

INTRODUCTION AND IMPORTANCE

Foreign bodies in paranasal sinuses are rarely encountered and most commonly present in the maxillary sinus. Guidelines for managing paranasal sinus object removal are limited due to its rarity. However, there are three major management options: open surgery, endoscopic sinus surgery, and observation.

CASE PRESENTATION

We report a rare case of an 18-year-old boy who underwent extended frontal sinus surgery to retrieve a retained air gun pellet in the right frontal sinus and repair the skull base defect resulting from the air gun pellet.

CLINICAL DISCUSSION

Physicians commonly use endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) for improving sinus drainage in recurrent chronic and acute infective sinusitis. Extended sinus surgery aims to maximize the communication between the paranasal sinuses and the nasal cavity. This extended communication helps improve access to the sinus, enhance drainage, and improve the delivery of topical medications. In addition, the use of ESS with the modified Lothrop procedure allows for better exposure of the skull base, which can help with the repair of a CSF leak.

CONCLUSION

Based on our experience with this patient and similar literature, ESS should be considered a treatment option for patients with retained foreign objects in the frontal sinus.

An Endoscopic-Assisted Open Removal of a Retained Foreign Body From Frontal Sinus

Facial penetrating injuries can cause retention of foreign bodies in the frontal sinus. This rare condition can remain underdiagnosed for years, since non-specific symptoms, such as headaches and nasal obstruction, can be developed. So far, removal by an endoscopic approach is the most preferred treatment option because it is less invasive with a short recovery time. However, removal by an open surgical approach remains the method of choice for large foreign bodies, especially in cases of coexistent non-reducible fractures of the anterior table of the frontal bone. We present a case where a combined approach - open and endoscopic - was necessary to successfully remove a retained foreign body from a frontal sinus. With the assistance of a transnasal endoscope, the retained stone was mobilized and removed from the open frontal sinus followed by osteosynthesis of the anterior table. Therefore, in special circumstances, a combination of both techniques should be considered for the optimal outcome.