Comparison of natural ostiotomy and antibiotic therapy in the treatment of acute maxillary sinusitis in rabbits.

The goal of this study was to compare natural ostiotomy and the administration of a systemic antibiotic in the treatment of acute maxillary sinusitis. Maxillary sinusitis was induced in 28 rabbits by blocking the natural ostium with a bone chip and by introducing 0.2 ml of a suspension of Streptococcus pneumoniae (2 x 10(9) cells/ml). The animals were divided into natural ostiotomy and antibiotic therapy groups: the natural ostiotomy group comprised 14 rabbits, in which the bone chip that blocked the natural ostium was removed; and the antibiotic therapy group comprised 14 rabbits treated with systemic antibiotic without reopening the ostium. The sinus mucosa of each group was examined histopathologically 2 weeks and 4 weeks after treatment. There were no significant differences in light microscopic findings between the natural ostiotomy and antibiotic therapy groups. Natural ostiotomy was as effective against acute maxillary sinusitis as the systemic administration of antibiotics. The results of this study suggest that natural ostiotomy and antibiotic therapy may be equally effective in the treatment of acute maxillary sinusitis in rabbits.