Comparison of computed tomography with conventional radiography for midfacial fractures.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the clinical effectiveness of computed tomography (CT) with conventional radiography in midfacial fractures.


METHODS
The conventional radiographs (CM) and CT scans of 40 consecutive patients with complex midfacial fractures were assessed independently by two examiners. The number and site of fractures of the orbit, zygoma and maxilla were compared by the Wilcoxon Matched Pairs Signed Rank test. The best method for classification of the fracture was determined.


RESULTS
Coronal CT (CCT) proved superior in the diagnosis of orbital fractures (P<0.001). There was no significant difference between any of the imaging methods for fractures of the zygoma. Axial CT (ACT) was the most effective method in imaging of maxillary fractures (ACT-CM; P<0.001, ACT-CCT; P<0.01). CCT was the most useful in classification of orbital and maxillary fracture.


CONCLUSIONS
CCT is superior to CM for the assessment of complex midface fractures
Tanrikulu
R
R
Department of Oral and Maxillo-facial Surgery, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Dicle, 21280 Diyarbakir, Turkey.
Erol
B
B
D005147:Facial Bones / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000293:injuries*; D005624:Frontal Bone / Q000293:injuries; D006801:Humans; D008440:Maxillary Fractures / Q000145:classification / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D015588:Observer Variation; D009917:Orbital Fractures / Q000145:classification / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011856:Radiographic Image Enhancement; D012887:Skull Fractures / Q000145:classification / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013701:Temporal Bone / Q000293:injuries; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods; D015051:Zygomatic Fractures / Q000145:classification / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging