The Recovery of Odontogenic Sinusitis after Endoscopic Sinus Surgery

Abstract
Background and Objectives The present study was designed to investigate the normalization period of the maxillary sinus after endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) for odontogenic sinusitis (ODS) and factors related to it. The thickness of the maxillary sinus mucosa may reflect the improvement of symptoms and may help determine when the dental implant procedure will be possible. Subjects and Method A total of 52 patients (34 males and 18 females) who were diagnosed with ODS and treated by ESS between 2014 and 2019 were enrolled in this study. The recovery status was defined as ‘improved’ when the mucosal thickness of the maxillary sinus was less than 4 mm measured by X-ray radiograph; ‘partially improved’ when it was 5 to 10 mm, and ‘little’ when it was more than 10 mm. The recovery period of the maxillary sinus after ESS was measured with an endoscope and X-ray radiograph and its related factors were analyzed. Results About 2.1±1.6 months were required for maxillary sinus to return to normal as investigated with an endoscope and X-ray radiograph. Assessed one month after ESS when compared to the three months after ESS, the results showed 100% recovery in ‘improved’ cases, 85.7% in ‘partially improved’ cases, and 50% in ‘little’ cases. ‘The mucosal thickness of the maxillary sinus one month after ESS’ (p<0.001), ‘oroantral fistula (OAF)’ (p=0.010), and ‘delayed extraction’ (p=0.028) were significantly related to the recovery period of the maxillary sinus by multiple regression analysis.Conclusion ODS responds well to the ESS, and the mean period for returning to normal maxillary sinus was 2.1±1.6 months. The normalization period of the maxillary sinus was positively correlated with the mucosal thickness of the maxillary sinus one month after ESS, OAF, and delayed tooth extraction.