Nasoantral windows: an experimental study in rabbits

An experimental study was designed to compare the effects of enlargement of the maxillary ostium to inferior meatal antrostomy. In 10 rabbits, the sinus ostium was enlarged (osteoplasty group), and in 10 other animals, a window of the same size was created far from the ostium (antrostomy group). The control groups were 7 rabbits in which no surgery was performed and 6 rabbits in which only the surgical approach was performed. At reexploration 14 and 84 days after surgery, it was observed that rabbits in the osteoplasty group had significantly more infections of the sinuses than the antrostomy group and both control groups (P less than .05). Possible reasons for the difference in infection rate are discussed. These data indicate that, in normal maxillary sinuses of rabbits, disruption of the ostium results in an increased incidence of infection.