THE CALDWELL-LUC PROCEDURE IN 1991

In the pre-antibiotic era, George Caldwell and Guy Luc both designed an operation to remove infected polypoid tissue from the maxillary antrum, as well as to provide drainage and ventilation of the sinus. With the development of antibiotics and the surgical endoscopes, many of the former indications for the Caldwell-Luc procedure have changed. However, the Caldwell-Luc procedure still offers optimal exposure for decompression of Grave's ophthalmopathy, pterygomaxillary space surgery, management of some maxillary trauma, removal of antral foreign bodies, repair of some oral-antral fistulae, management of maxillary osteomyelitis and benign maxillary tumors, and irreversible mucosal disease and endoscopic surgical failures.