Significance of maxillary septa in endoscopic nasal surgery

Objective To explore the significance of maxillary septa in endoscopic nasal surgery. Methods Five hundred and ninety-two patients （both inpatients and outpatients ） encountered in our hospital during May 2006 and December 2006 were included in this study. Computer tomography images of sinuses from scheduled axial and coronal or saggital scan were analyzed by using digital imaging and communication in medicine. Results The incidence of the coronal complete maxillary septa was 3.2% （19/592） , 16 cases on bilateral sides and 3 cases on unilateral side. The cavity anterior to the coronal complete maxillary septa drainaged into the middle meatus, whereas the antrum posterior drainaged into the superior meatus. The incidence of chronic sinusitis was 36. 8% （7/19） in patients with coronal complete maxillary septa. Conclusions The optimum method to observe maxillary coronal septa was axial CT. The diseases in the cavity posterior to the coronal complete maxillary septa and in pterygopalatine fossa should be operated via the superior meatus. Key words: Maxillary sinus; Tomography, X-ray computed; Nose diseases