[Study on the correlation between the ostia diameter changes and airflow characteristics in maxillary sinus]

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Computational Fluid Dynamics
• Otolaryngology

Background:

• The maxillary sinus plays a crucial role in respiratory health.
• Understanding its physiological function is key for effective surgical interventions.
• Maxillary sinus ostium size is a critical factor in sinus ventilation and temperature regulation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between maxillary sinus airflow, temperature, and ostium size.
• To provide a quantitative reference for endoscopic maxillary sinus surgery.

Main Methods:

• A 3D model of the nasal cavity and maxillary sinus was created from CT data.
• Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) was employed to simulate airflow and temperature.
• Simulations were performed with varying maxillary sinus ostium diameters (normal, 8, 10, 12, 15 mm).

Main Results:

• Maxillary sinus airflow speed (0.062 m/s) was significantly lower than in the middle nasal meatus (3.260 m/s).
• Average maxillary sinus temperature (34°C) was higher than in the middle nasal meatus (28.7°C).
• Increasing ostium diameter did not significantly alter sinus air temperature.

Conclusions:

• Numerical simulation is a valuable tool for studying maxillary sinus physiology.
• Maxillary sinus temperature and ventilation remain largely unaffected by ostium enlargement.
• Findings provide a quantitative basis for clinical endoscopic maxillary sinus surgery.