Oro-Antral Fistulas and their Management: Our Experience

Oroantral fistula (OAF) is an epithelized, pathological communication between the maxillary antrum and oral cavity. The most common etiological factor is molar or premolar tooth extraction. The bone between maxillary sinus floor and posterior teeth is thin and occasionally the root apices of the posterior teeth reach the maxillary sinus, predisposing them to the formation of OAF. Other causes are bacterial or fungal infections, osteomyelitis, granulomatous diseases, Paget's disease, malignancy, maxillofacial trauma and iatrogenic. Small OAFs heal spontaneously but larger fistulas, persisting more than three weeks need to be closed. In repairing the persistent OAF, the maxillary sinus must be addressed. Maxillary sinusitis may lead to the failure of closure of the OAF. The basic modus operandi is clearance of disease from the sinus and covering the defect with a suitable graft. Various local and distant flaps are used to repair the OAF. We report three cases of OAF, managed by three different techniques. We also suggest a combined approach for large OAFs, repaired in 3 layers using septal cartilage, fat, and a buccal muco-periosteal advancement flap.