The Modified Caldwell-Luc Approach for Treating Odontogenic Maxillary Sinusitis Without Need for Functional Endoscopic Sinus Surgery: A Retrospective Study

Odontogenic maxillary sinusitis is a common inflammatory condition resulting from the violation of the Schneiderian membrane by conditions arising from the dentoalveolar unit, which includes teeth, their supporting structures, and adjacent tissues. This study aims to evaluate a modified surgical approach for treating this condition. The purpose of this study is to measure the frequency of retreatment of maxillary sinusitis of odontogenic origin following treatment with a modified Caldwell-Luc approach, which involves accessing the maxillary sinus through the canine fossa without creating a counter-opening in the inferior nasal meatus. This retrospective cohort study included 82 cases (83 sinuses) with odontogenic sinusitis treated surgically with the modified Caldwell-Luc technique at the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Poriya Medical Center, between 2014 and 2021. Patients with nonodontogenic sinusitis were excluded. Anatomic findings defined as the presence or absence of ostiomeatal complex abnormalities and oroantral communication, as identified through clinical examination and computed tomography imaging. The need for retreatment, defined as the requirement for functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS) due to persistent signs and symptoms of maxillary sinusitis after the modified Caldwell-Luc procedure, including facial pain/pressure, nasal congestion, purulent nasal discharge, or radiographic evidence of persistent sinus opacification on computed tomography scan, lasting more than 4 weeks despite appropriate medical management. Covariates included demographic data (age, sex [male/female as identified at birth]), smoking status, etiologies of odontogenic sinusitis, and surgical conditions. Descriptive statistics, Cox proportional hazards regression was used to compute hazard ratios (HRs). Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was performed to estimate the probability of remaining FESS-free over time. The level of statistical significance was set at P