The effects of natural ostium and nasoantral window on mucosal regeneration after maxillary sinus surgery in rabbits.

The aims of the study were to investigate the effects of natural ostium and the nasoantral window on the mucosal regeneration after maxillary sinus surgery and to detect the changes in the mucociliary clearance during regeneration process. Twenty-eight rabbits were studied. In the study group consisting of 21 rabbits, the mucosa of each right maxillary sinus was totally removed, natural ostium was occluded with bone-wax and a nasoantral window was created, while the left sinus mucosa was removed and the natural ostium was left open without creating a nasoantral window. Maxillary sinus mucosa taken during surgery was investigated by light and electron microscopy. The study group was divided into three subgroups. The first group was followed for 2, the second for 4, and the last group for 8 weeks. At the end of these periods, the mucociliary function was evaluated scintigraphically using 99mTc-Human serum albumin. Following this investigation mucosal biopsies were taken from the right and left sinuses and the rabbits were sacrificed. In the control group consisting of 7 rabbits a small hole was opened in the anterior wall of the maxillary sinus of each rabbit and the scintigraphic evaluation was performed for this group at the end of each follow up period as well. In the histopathologic investigation, no difference was found between the natural and the nasoantral window using light microscopy, but there was a difference between them in the electron microscopic findings (p < 0.05, Chi-square test). The scintigraphic, light and electron microscopic findings and gross appearances of the sinuses are discussed.