Effects of maxillary sinus floor elevation surgery on maxillary sinus physiology

In a prospective study, the effects of elevation surgery of the maxillary sinus floor on maxillary sinus physiology were assessed. Seventeen consecutive patients without preoperative anamnestic, clinical and radiological signs of maxillary sinusitis underwent sinus floor elevation surgery with iliac crest bone grafts. All patients were subjected to unilateral endoscopic examination of the maxillary sinus, taking of a biopsy specimen from the sinus floor mucosa, and collection of a sinus lavage-fluid aspirate. This triad of evaluations was performed immediately preceding the elevation procedure, and 3 months (at implant insertion) and 9 months (at uncovering of implants) postoperatively. All procedures were performed under general anesthesia. Preoperatively, three out of 17 patients showed pre-existing mucosal pathology endoscopically, while the 3- and 9-month results revealed the presence of mucosal pathology in four and two patients, respectively. The 3-month microbiological evaluation showed a significant increase in cultures with bacterial growth, while the 9-month culture results were comparable to the preoperative status of the maxillary sinus. Morphologically, neither fibrosis nor an altered inflammatory response or thickening of the epithelium and lamina propria was observed postoperatively. The number of goblet cells in the epithelial layer was increased. From this study it is concluded that the effect of maxillary sinus floor elevation surgery with autogenous bone grafts does not appear to have clinical consequences in patients without signs of pre-existing maxillary sinusitis.