A Comparative Study Between Endoscopic Middle Meatal Antrostomy and Caldwell-Luc Surgery in the Treatment of Chronic Maxillary Sinusitis

Functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS) has almost completely replaced the radical Caldwell-Luc approach. About 20 years after its origin of FESS a comparative study with Caldwell-Luc Surgery (C-L) definitely should be on cards to validate the previous results. To compare the effectiveness of endoscopic middle meatal antrostomy and Caldwell-Luc's surgery in the management of Chronic Maxillary Sinusitis. This is a prospective randomized comparative study based on the analysis of eighty patients who were diagnosed to have chronic, unilateral, maxillary sinusitis and underwent surgery, after a failed trial of conservative management. One year after surgery 44% of the C-L patients and 89% of the FESS patients reported distinct improvement of their symptoms. Both are effective in the management of chronic sinusitis. Endoscopic middle meatal antrostomy is superior to Caldwell-Luc in intraoperative and postoperative parameters.