Surgical Approach to Odontogenic Maxillary Sinusitis Caused by Tooth Root Displacement into the Maxillary Sinus: A Case Report

Abstract

Paranasal sinuses affected by foreign bodies are uncommon clinical situations. Foreign body displacement into facial sinuses is a potential iatrogenic complication, that may cause an oroantral fistula, sinusitis, cellulitis, and subdural emphysema. The maxillary sinus is usually the most affected by tooth displacements, due to its proximity. A dental fragment in the maxillary sinus may cause Odontogenic Maxillary Sinusitis (OMS). The present case report presents a case from the diagnosis to treatment of OMS originated by a fragment of tooth root displacement into the sinus during a previous dental extraction. A female patient, 13-year-old, had characteristic signs of sinusitis, reporting rhinorrhoea, headache, eye pain, and pain on the left side of the face. The clinical examination showed pain on palpation in the buccal region of the upper left first molar, which was absent. The Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) showed a foreign body inside the maxillary sinus, complete opacification, and bone defect on the sinus floor. Given the final diagnosis of OMS, the treatment selected was the combination of antibiotic therapy and fragment removal from the sinus. The diagnosis, planning, and correct use of surgical techniques described in the literature are essential for preventing iatrogenesis and actively ensuring patient health. In this sense, patients need to be informed about any complication, which should be written in the medical records along with resolution measures.

Keywords

• caldwell-luc technique
• full-thickness flap
• iatrogenic disease
• postoperative complications