Reconstruction of the facial fenestration in the Caldwell-Luc maxillary sinus operation.

The result of the inadvoidable removal of bone in the canine fossa during antral fenestration is a large bone defect. Scar tissue grows across this defect and sometimes obliterates and interferes with the antral physiology. This paper presents our experience with the reconstruction of the defect by means of the osteotomised canine fossa bone with adhering soft tissues. In this way the antral volume remains unchanged and irritation of the infraorbital nerve often caused by the scar tissue of the facial fenestration as well as other pathological sequelae after the Caldwell-Luc operation are avoided.