The Caldwell-Luc operation, which was introduced by Caldwell in 1893 and Luc in 1897, was designed to remove diseased sinus mucosa and to provide ventilation and drainage of the maxillary sinus. With the development of antibiotics and surgical methods, the Caldwell-Luc procedure has been less calud for. However, the Caldwell-Luc procedure still remains a fundamental procedure for orbital decompression, pterygomaxillary space surgery, maxillary trauma, management of maxillary osteomyelitis an benign tumors, irreversible mucosal disease and failure of endoscopic sinus surgery. Postoperative complications for various procedures are paresthesia of cheek, teeth and gingiva, hemorrhage and facial swelling, oroantral fistula, devitalized teeth and facial asymmetry. But, facial asymmetry following the Caldwell-Luc operation is rare. The medial, lateral and superior walls of postoperative maxillary sinus are retracted. Postoperative maxillary sinus is internally obliterated by scar tissue and is externally contracted by retractions of the sinus walls. The causes of retraction are attraction of scar tissue in antrum, loss of bony wall during operation, pressure of surrounding tissue, and external tension of masticating muscles. We experienced a facial asymmetry following a Caldwell-Luc operation. It was reconstructed using corticocancellous iliac bone. Cortical bone was faced to the antrum and cancellous bone was faced to the overlying periosteum. This case is discussed with review of the literatures.
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