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 su rgery and to detect the changes in the mucociliary clearance during regener ation process. Twenty-eight rabbits were studied. In the study group consisting of 21 rabb its, the mucosa of each right maxillary sinus was totally removed, natural ostium was occluded with bone-wax and a nasoantral window was created, whil e the left sinus mucosa teas removed and the natural ostium was left open w ithout creating a nasoantral window. Maxillary sinus mucosa taken during su rgery was investigated by light and electron microscopy. The study group wa s divided into three subgroups. The first group was followed for 2, the sec ond for 4, and the last group for 8 weeks. At the end of these periods, the mucociliary function was evaluated scintigraphically using Tc-99m-Human se rum 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 n atural and the nasoantral window using light microscopy, but there was a di fference between them in the electron microscopic findings (p<0.05, Chi-squ are test). The scintigraphic, light and electron microscopic findings and gross appear ances of the sinuses are discussed.