Can we predict maxillary sinus mucosa perforation?

This study was carried out to evaluate the prevalence of sinus mucosa perforation occurred during maxillary sinus mucosa elevation surgery, its relation to objective conditions and to the causative medical history, and its influence on postoperative sinusitis, as well. One hundred and forty-six sinus lift procedures have been evaluated in 118 patients. The prevalence of the sinus mucosa perforation was evaluated and subdivided into four groups according to its size and way of treatment. No relation was observed between the perforation and the presence of sinus septa, smoking, radiographic thickening and cyst-like lesions of the maxillary sinus, and previous sinus allergy (P < 0.05). Despite of high prevalence of the perforation of the mucosa (56.16%), no signs of bone graft infection or maxillary sinusitis were noted in any of our patient.