title: Usefulness of Curved-Shaft Needles for Infiltrating the Sphenopalatine Area.
abstract: The objective of this study is to evaluate what types of needles are optimal and efficient for infiltrating the sphenopalatine area during endoscopic sinus surgery. Prospective, randomized, open-labeled study was designed. Sixty-three sides of nasal cavities of 45 patients were randomly assigned to three groups with different needle shapes. The group 1 needles had a straight shaft, the group 2 had an obtuse curved shaft, and the group 3 had an arch-shape shaft. The infiltration time for group 1 was longer than that for group 2 and group 3. There was significant difference in the secondary infiltration time between group 1 and group 3 (p = 0.005). We devised new curved-shaft needles that can utilize the 'lever effect' and showed that they are more efficient than straight shaft needles for infiltrating the sphenopalatine area.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Eulji University Medical Center, College of Medicine, Eulji University, Daejeon, Korea.
authors.forename: So Young
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Eulji University Medical Center, College of Medicine, Eulji University, Daejeon, Korea.
authors.forename: Ho Yun
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Eulji University Medical Center, College of Medicine, Eulji University, Daejeon, Korea ; Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, Eulji University Medical Center, Dunsanseoro 95, Seo-gu, Daejeon, 302-799 Korea.
authors.forename: Myoung Su
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Choi
keywords: Bleeding; Endoscopic sinus surgery; Needle; Sphenopalatine foramen