Prevalence, diameter and course of the maxillary intraosseous vascular canal with relation to sinus augmentation procedure: a radiographic study

The aim of the study was to characterize the prevalence, diameter and course of intraosseous anastomosis between the posterior superior alveolar artery and the infraorbital artery (bony canal) involved in the sinus floor augmentation procedure. Data from 208 sinuses were analyzed from reconstructed computed tomography (CT) images. The presence of the intraosseous anastomosis in the lateral antral wall was detected using sagittal plane sections, in addition, the intraosseous course and the diameter of the bony canal were examined. The bony canal was identified in 114 (55%) of the 208 maxillary sinuses, with a mean distance of 16.9 mm from the alveolar ridge. From the examined canals, in 7% the diameter was 2–3 mm wide, in 22% 1–2 mm and in 26% it was less than 1 mm wide. Because only in 50% of cases the vessel was large enough to be detected by a CT scan, it is recommended, to place the superior border of the osteotomy up to 15 mm from the alveolar crest in A to C type ridges to avoid penetration of the artery.