Paranasal sinus anatomy and trephination technique (Proceedings)
Aug 01, 2010
CVC IN KANSAS CITY PROCEEDINGS
The equine paranasal sinuses (PNS) are an intricate area of the head. There are 6 paired sinuses (frontal, maxillary, dorsal conchal, ventral conchal, middle conchal, and sphenopalatine) and all of these spaces communicate with each other and the nasal passage either directly or indirectly. A thorough understanding of the spatial structural relationships will improve one's ability to interpret imaging studies and plan the best approach to the PNS. Trephination of the PNS is a basic procedure that can be readily performed in the field, and familiarity with anatomy is the most important aspect of the procedure. It is imperative to know what, and where, normal is for the PNS, as often the visual field is one of accumulated fluid (e.g. blood, purulent material), and abnormal architecture (e.g. presence of a mass).
Frontal (Conchofrontal or Nasofrontal Sinus)
The maxillary sinus is partitioned into rostral and caudal regions by a variably located bony septum that extends obliquely mediocaudodorsad from the lateral wall of the maxilla (Figure 1). Commonly, the septum lies about 5 cm caudal to the rostral end of the facial crest and passes over the roots of the 1st and/or 2nd molars (maxillary 09, 10) (see later). The septum blends dorsally with the bulla of the VCS. Anatomically the RMS ends as a small cavity at the level of the rostral end of the facial crest, extending just beyond it in some horses. The CMS extends caudally, ventromedial to the bony orbit, to a vertical plane through the midpoint of the orbit. In addition to the CFS, the CMS has direct communication with the sphenopalatine sinus and the middle conchal sinus. The surgical boundaries of the MS are ventrally, the facial crest, dorsally a line between the medial canthus and the infraorbital foramen, rostrally a line connecting the infraorbital foramen and the rostral end of the facial crest and caudally a tangential line drawn at the rostral rim of the orbit between the ventral and dorsal limits of the MS. The lacrimal canal, which protects the initial part of the nasolacrimal duct (Figure 1), is a bony channel on the internal side of the lacrimal and maxilla bones. The path of the canal and duct is a line from the medial canthus of the eye toward the nasoincisive notch, running slightly dorsal to the infraorbital foramen. This structure is preferably avoided when performing trephination or sinusotomy.