Background: In the external dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR), a sutured anastomosis technique performed between the nasal mucosal and lacrimal sac flaps reported by Dupuy-Dutemps and Bourguet was the gold standard and was believed to lead to the success of the surgery. However, because of the small working space, a flap suturing technique has not been completely established in endonasal DCR (END-DCR).
Objectives: The effect of the modified flap suture anastomosis technique using a Sonopet ultrasonic bone aspirator was retrospectively compared to that using a diamond burr in patients with nasolacrimal duct obstruction.
Materials and methods: One hundred ten patients underwent the modified flap suturing technique using the Sonopet, and 30 patients were operated on using a diamond burr.
Results: Successful patency of the lacrimal ostium (LO) was obtained in all patients in both groups. The rates of successful suturing during the operation and of a large diameter of the LO 3 months after the operation were significantly higher in patients in whom the Sonopet rather than the burr was used.
Conclusions and significance: The Sonopet might offer similar surgical outcome to the traditional microdrill DCR and is a safer means of bone removal in END-DCR in the small working space.
Keywords: Dacryocystorhinostomy; double flap; endonasal; lacrimal sac; nasal mucosa; suture; ultrasonic bone aspirator.