Prevalence and Characteristics of the Maxillary Sinus Septa in a Saudi Arabian Sub-population: A Retrospective Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT)-Based Study

Objectives: This study aims to investigate and determine the prevalence, location, and morphological differences of the maxillary sinus septa using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) images in the Madina region and to discuss its clinical implications during sinus surgery.

Methods: This study was a retrospective cross-sectional radiographic analysis of 808 CBCT scans from patients who attended Taibah University's College of Dentistry between December 2018 and June 2023. Age, gender, number of septa present per side, location (anterior, middle, posterior), morphology (complete or partial), and type (primary or secondary) were among the study variables. For data statistics, correlation analysis was utilized. Results: Eight hundred eight CBCT scans were included with a mean age of 34.7±15.08. Septal bone was absent in 60.64% of the sinuses examined. Single septa were more common than multiple septa (p=0.009). Bilateral septal presence and the left septal bone were more common than the right, but none of these distributions were statistically significant. Males showed more sinus septa compared to females, but the difference was not statistically significant (p=0.420). Single septa were more prevalent in people under the age of 25.

Conclusion: More than 60% of the Madina population had patent sinus cavities with no septal processes, but males with single septal processes predominated.