Frontal Bone Cranioplasty for Facial Feminization: Long-Term Follow-Up of Postoperative Sinonasal Symptoms

Abstract

<b>Background:</b> Forehead feminization cranioplasty (FFC) risks entering the frontal sinus to achieve the desired contour. To date, no study has investigated long-term FFC complications. <b>Objective:</b> Determine if long-term sinus and headache symptoms worsen secondary to frontal sinus mucosal violation, measured by patient-reported outcomes. <b>Methods:</b> Single database retrospective chart review of patients who underwent forehead contouring between August 2012 and August 2019 was conducted. Two cohorts-frontal sinus mucosal violation versus mucosal preservation-were surveyed postprocedurely for postprocedure SNOT (Sinonasal Outcome Test)-22 scores and pre- and postprocedure sinus and headache symptoms. <b>Results:</b> Frontal sinus violation, mean time between surgery and response was 4.16 ± 1.88 years (range: 1-8). Without violation, mean time between surgery and response was 2.5 ± 1.10 years (range: 1-5). Postoperative SNOT-22 severity scores were not different (12.55 vs. 8.6, <i>p</i> = 0.20). Postoperative SNOT-22 scores were equivalent to a control nonrhinosinusitis population. No difference was found between violation of the frontal sinus with worse postoperative sinus (22 vs. 5, <i>p</i> = 0.60) or headache symptoms. <b>Conclusion:</b> Our data did not detect a difference in sinus or headache outcomes in patients who experienced violation of the anterior frontal table compared with a similar population with preservation of the frontal sinus, over an 8-year follow-up.