Healing Process of Sinus Mucosa after Endoscopic Sinus Surgery

In the treatment of chronic sinusitis, the mucosa should be preserved, or, when severely damaged, only the mucosal surface removed with cutting forceps. It is especially important not to expose the surface of the bone by complete removal of the mucosa. When the mucosa is conserved, or excision is limited to only the mucosal surface, ciliated cells regenerate within 6 months. However, where the mucosa was completely removed during surgery and the bone was exposed, the area was covered with nonciliated cells, and only scattered cilia were present.