The diagnostic efficacy of multiplanar and 3-dimensional MDCT in Evaluation of Traumatic Maxillofacial Injuries

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 aDepartment of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Department of Radiodiagnosis, El-Mabara Health Insurance Hospital, Assiut, Egypt

2 Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology,Assiut, Egypt

Abstract

Purpose: The study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of multidetector computed tomography(MDCT) using multiplanar
and three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction images in the management of patients with maxillofacial injuries.
Materials and Methods: Ninety-six patients with maxillofacial trauma were enrolled. The detected fractures were documented
and tabulated into three groups. The first group the data obtained in axial images, the second group the data obtained in multiplanar
reformatted images, and the third group 3D-reconstructed images.
Results: Orbital, mandibular, and maxillary fractures were the most frequent fractures occurring in 37 (50.6 %), 37 (50.6 %),
and 33 (45.2 %) cases respectively. 3D reconstructed images had the highest sensitivity in diagnosing the infraorbital fractures
compared with axial, sagittal, and coronal reformatted images (p ꞊ 0.00, p ꞊ 0.03 and p ꞊ 0.01 respectively). Coronal reformatted
images performed better than axial images in the evaluation of pterygoid plate fractures, and axial images were better in the
case of anterior maxillary wall fractures in comparison to 3D reconstruction (p ꞊ 0.01). Sagittal reformatted images had the least
sensitivity in diagnosing mandibular fracture and condylar dislocation.
Conclusion:Multiplanar reconstruction increases the effectiveness of visualization of facial fractures.3D images provides
better visualization of fracture lines and displaced bony fragments especially in the case of Le Fort fractures.

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