Objectives: To determine the impact of FESS after the first and before the second growth spurt on facial growth and in particular of the maxilla.
Design: Prospective study of 23 patients with cystic fibrosis, 13 patients requiring extensive endoscopic spheno-ethmoidectomy (FESS) because of massive nasal polyposis, with a follow-up of at least 10 years.
Setting: A cystic fibrosis referral centre in an academic tertiary pediatric hospital.
Patients: At the time the standard cephalometric measurements were performed all patients were adults with cystic fibrosis. One group of patients underwent FESS during facial growth (N=9), a second group of patients had no previous surgery (N=9), and in a third group FESS has been performed after the second growth spurt (N=5).
Results: No statistically significant differences (Kruskall-Wallis test) were found in the cephalometric measurements of these three patient groups.
Conclusions: Extensive FESS after the first and before the second growth spurt has no impact on the outcome of facial growth.