What Is a Maxillary Antrostomy? Sinus Infections


Located behind the cheekbones, the maxillary sinuses are the sinuses most often infected in adults.

When this part of your nose is blocked, the maxillary sinuses no longer drain properly and infection can develop. Often, the sinus opening itself becomes blocked, too. The procedure to clear the sinus opening is called a maxillary antrostomy. The procedure to clear the osteomeatal complex is called an uncinectomy. Usually, both are performed together.

In rare cases, a maxillary antrostomy doesn’t help drain the maxillary sinus completely. Or there may be diseased tissue that can’t be removed in this way. If so, your surgeon may need to create a new drainage pathway between the maxillary sinus and the nose (a Caldwell-Luc procedure).
