[An anatomical study of maxillary sinus septum of Han population in Jiangsu region using cone-beam CT]

To examine the anatomical variation of maxillary sinus septum of Han nationality in Jiangsu region by using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) combined with Simplant software in order to provide anatomical basis and operation instruction for oral implants after maxillary sinus lifting.

CBCT image data were collected from 424 patients for analysis of maxillary sinus septa. Digital imaging and communications in medicine (Dicom) image files were fed into the computer-aided Simplant software and used to analyze the prevalence, location, height, orientation, and morphology of maxillary sinus septa through three-dimensional reconstruction. The data was analyzed with SPSS17.0 software package.

The proportion of the occurrence of maxillary sinus septa in 424 subjects was 44.81% and 21.23% of the subjects (n=90) had multiple sinus septa, while 20.52% had bilateral sinus septa (n=87). Totally 848 maxillary sinuses were observed in this study and 277 sinuses had septa with a proportion of 32.67%. The prevalence of septa was not significantly related to gender, age, and the presence or absence of teeth. Septa were located most frequently in the middle of maxillary sinus (59.94%). The mean height of sinus septa was (5.90±3.65) mm and (5.54±2.87) mm in the right and left maxillary sinus, respectively. The mean length of sinus septa was (8.15±2.40) mm and (7.88±2.73) mm in the right and left maxillary sinus, respectively.

Nearly 44.81% of Han population in Jiangsu region have maxillary sinus septa. The CBCT imaging technique can provide comprehensive and accurate quantitative analysis of maxillary sinus septa and is meaningful to provide anatomical basis and clinical guidance before sinus augmentation procedures.