Evaluation of Caldwell-Luc Operation in the Endoscopic Era: Experience From Past 7 Years

We wished to draw attention to the changes in the surgical method and indications for the Caldwell-Luc (CL) operation in the endoscopic era.

The patients who had undergone the CL operation in the previous 7 years were included in the present study. All operations had been performed by otolaryngologists. The CL operation was performed as 2 types of antrostomy: radical canine fossa antrostomy (RA) and mini-canine fossa antrostomy (MA). The surgical methods were grouped as follows: RA alone, endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) plus RA, and ESS plus MA.

RA alone, ESS plus RA, and ESS plus MA had been performed in 24 (25.5%), 6 (6.3%), and 64 (68.1%) patients, respectively. RA had been used for a total of 30 patients and had been combined with ESS for only 6 patients. The indications were categorized as mucosal sinus disease and odontogenic lesions. A statistically significant difference was found between the rates of the preferred antrostomy type for the treatment of sinus mucosal disease and odontogenic lesions (P < .001).

In otorhinolaryngology practice, the CL procedure has mostly been required to provide easy access to the maxillary sinus when ESS alone would be inadequate. However, the formal CL operation, including RA, could still be considered a main surgical technique in oral and maxillofacial surgery practice.