Assessment of utility of cone beam computed tomography in maxillofacial trauma: A retrospective study

Introduction and Aim: CT/CBCT data from maxillofacial trauma patients can provide 3D reformatted images that give the trauma surgeon a unique perspective of the nature of the injury and the degree of displacement of the fracture segments, which helps guide the appropriate surgical approaches for the fracture reduction and stabilization. Hence the present study was planned to assess the utility of CBCT imaging in various maxillofacial trauma. Materials and Methods: The present retrospective study was planned and conducted on the CBCT evaluation of 40 patients that all presented with fractures due to craniofacial trauma over a period of two years. All the imaging scans were performed with the diagnostic purpose. There was use of Promax 3d (Planmeca, Finland), it is characterised by the exposure time of 18 seconds. Results: For the age group of 22 years to 30 years there were mandibular condyle fracture and mandibular angle fracture, for the age group 31 years to 50 years there were mandibular angle fracture, nazal bone fracture, mandibular condyle fracture and zygomatic fracture, for the age group of 51 years to 60 years zygomatic fractures. Conclusion: CBCT is most frequently applied in oral and maxillofacial surgery, endodontics, implant dentistry and orthodontics. CBC can be a quick and useful method used in diagnosis and therapeutic planning of craniofacial trauma. This technique can be successfully applied in cases of mild craniofacial fractures and cracks and can help us to reduce the dose of radiation, costs and time required to achieve examinations.