Caldwell-Luc Procedure
A surgical approach to the maxillary sinus through an incision in the canine fossa of the upper jaw, used to treat chronic sinusitis or remove sinus pathology.
Full Definition
The Caldwell-Luc procedure is an open surgical technique that gains access to the maxillary sinus via an antrostomy created through the anterior wall of the maxilla in the canine fossa, superior to the roots of the upper premolars. It was historically used to treat chronic maxillary sinusitis and is still employed in oral surgery to remove foreign bodies, roots displaced into the sinus, or sinus-related tumours. The eponymous names — George Caldwell and Henri Luc — are both capitalised and hyphenated by convention. Editors must ensure the hyphen is retained and neither name is lowercased.
Usage
Usage note: Always hyphenate between the two eponyms: 'Caldwell-Luc'. Both proper nouns must be capitalised. Do not write 'Caldwell Luc' (no hyphen) or 'caldwell-luc'.
In Context
- "A Caldwell-Luc procedure was performed to retrieve a fractured root tip that had been displaced into the left maxillary sinus." — Operative Report
- "The patient's history included a previous Caldwell-Luc procedure, which complicated intraoperative access." — Referral Letter