Patients with facial bone fractures usually present with some combination of deformity, tenderness, hemorrhage, edema, ecchymosis, instability, and crepitation; however, these features may not be present or may be transient.
Facial injuries are common and require radiologic evaluation to plan treatment. The role of imaging is to detect fractures, describe their morphology and topography, and evaluate adjacent soft tissue damage. Computed tomography is the imaging method of choice for an accurate diagnosis and for depicting the complex anatomic structures of the maxillo-facial region.
3D-CT of facial fractures has been reported as beneficial using surface (SR) and volume rendering (VR) techniques.
Open reduction and internal fixation of facial fractures demand a detailed understanding of the three-dimensional pattern of injury. This is difficult with present radiographic methods.
The 3DCT provided superior definition of fracture lines and the extent of comminution can be better appreciated. This additional information improved the surgeons’ ability to plan placement of interfragmentary wires and/or plates.
If open reduction and internal fixation is the mode of treatment, 3DCT is desirable because the added information makes preoperative planning more accurate and thereby facilitates surgical intervention.
The above 3D CT Scan images are of a priest who fell of the bike and sustained fracture of right Zygoma, lateral and inferior wall of right maxilla.
