Radical ethmoidectomy for nasal polyposis (nasalisation) tends to offer better results than functional ethmoidectomy in terms of recurrence. We have been performing the nasalisation technique since 2004, but late complications such as mucoceles were noted in several patients. We implemented some modifications to the nasalisation technique in order to reduce the complication rate while obtaining a similar recurrence rate.

Retrospective study on the files of patients operated for diffuse nasal polyposis after 24months of follow-up. Group A included 45 patients (90 sides) operated with the classical nasalisation technique, and group B included 74 patients (148 sides) operated with the modified technique.

Preoperative endoscopic grading results did not show any significant difference between groups. Recurrence rates at 24months of postoperative follow-up were of 22.2% and of 18.9% for group A and B respectively. This difference was not statistically significant. Complication rates were of 37.8% and 8.8% for Group A and Group B respectively. Complication rate was significantly lower for group B (P=0.002, standard deviation of 0.467).

The modified nasalisation technique offers the same functional results than the classical technique, but with a significant reduction of the late complication rate.