RETROSPECTIVE ASSESSMENT OF MAXILLOFACIAL FRACTURES WITH CONE-BEAM COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY

Aim: radiographic examination is essential for evaluating trauma of the maxillofacial region in addition to clinical examination. the presence, location and orientation of fracture planes and fragments can be assessed with three dimensional imaging modalities without superposition. cone-beam computed tomog- raphy is a technique that provides three-dimensional imaging of the dental and maxillofacial region. the aim of this study was to evaluate the characteristics of maxillofacial fractures with the aid of cone beam computed tomography images. material and methods: cone-beam computed tomographic images present in the archive of the dentomaxillofacial radiology department belonging to 71 patients with suspected maxillofacial fractures were evaluated in this study. demographic characteristics of the patients and presence of any fracture was recorded. cases in which fracture was diagnosed, the location and symmetry of the fracture and any displacement of the anatomic structures were recorded also. results: fractures were determined in 59 (83.1%) patients, totally 125 fractures. these patients consisted of 19 (32.2%) females and 40 (67.8%) males with and age range of 4-76 (mean: 30). the most common locations of the fractures were found to be the condyle head-condyle neck (20.0%, n=25), subcondylar region (12.8%, n=16) and the pterygoid processes (9.6%, n=12) regions. sixty-one (48.8%) of the fractures showed displacement of the structures. conclusion: this study evaluated the fracture cases were identified where the majority of middle-aged men and mandible localized. knowledge of dentists and medical doctors about the use of the cone-beam computed tomography of maxillofacial fractures, would be useful for diagnosis.