MAXILLARY SINUS SEPTA: PREVALENCE AND ASSOCIATION WITH GENDER AND LOCATION IN THE MAXILLA AMONG ADULTS IN SANA'A CITY, YEMEN
Authors: Alhadi Yahya Abdullah Ahmed , Al-Shamahi Nashwan Yahya A , AL-Haddad Khaled A , Al-Kholani Abdulwahab Ismail Mohamed , Al-Najhi Mohammed Mohammed Ali , Al-Shamahy Hassan Abdulwahab , Al-labani Mohammed A 
Published: July 2022

Background and aims: Maxillary sinus septa are partitions of cortical bone dividing the sinus into multiple compartments. Their presence and dimension are of relevance to periodontitis, oral and maxillofacial surgeons as well as otolaryngologists. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and association of maxillary sinus septum with gender and location in maxilla among adults in Sana’a city, Yemen.
Methods: This is a retrospective study carried out on 633 patient orthopantomograms (OPGs) which had visible maxillary sinus without pathological or developmental changes from the first of March 2021 to the end of February 2022 at the Department of Oral and Maxillo-Facial Surgery, Faculty of Dentistry, Sana’a University and private clinics in Sana’a city. Descriptive statistics of the continuous variable (age) was summarized as mean and standard deviation while the categorical variables were summarized as frequencies and percentages and presented as tables. Bivariate analysis was performed to test for association between the dependent variables (maxillary sinus septum presence, presentation and position) and independent variables (gender and location).
Results: The mean age of the patients was 29.59 years, range from 16 -56 years, and females 380 (60.0%). Of 259 (40.9%) maxillary sinus septum identified, 206 (79.5 %%) were from females. Majority 180 (69.5%) were unilateral, while 79 (30.5%) were bilateral. Occurrence of unilateral maxillary sinus septum was higher in males 104 (41.1%) with OR=2.8, 95% CI=1.9-3.98, p<0.0001; than females (20%), while bilateral septum occurs roughly in equal rates in both gender (11.86 VS 12.89%). 
Conclusion: This study has shown a significant proportion of maxillary sinus septum among patients with visible orthopantomogram without pathology in Sana’a, Yemen, with the highest proportion being females. There is therefore the need for the occurrence and presentation of maxillary sinus septum in this study to serve as a baseline data in the treatment of dental implant and surgical procedures in Sana’a, Yemen.
                 
Peer Review History:
Received: 2 May 2022; Revised: 18 June; Accepted: 29 June, Available online: 15 July 2022
Academic Editor: Prof. Cyprian Ogbonna ONYEJI, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria, conyeji@oauife.edu.ng
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Received file:                                Reviewer's Comments:
Average Peer review marks at initial stage: 6.0/10
Average Peer review marks at publication stage: 7.0/10
Reviewers:
Dr. Bountain Welcome Tebeda,Chemical Pathology Department, Federal Medical Centre, Yenagoa, Nigeria. bountaintebeda@yahoo.com
Dr. Rima Benatoui, Laboratory of Applied Neuroendocrinology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Badji Mokhtar University Annaba, BP12 E L Hadjar–Algeria, benattouiryma@gmail.com
 Dr. Esther Marguerite Chase DJANGA, Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. Department of Public Health. University of Yaoundé I, Cameroon. e.djanga@yahoo.com