[Significance of location of mandibular canal by 3-dimensional CT in the mandibular angle osteotomy].
OBJECTIVE
To decrease the incidence of inferior alveolar neurovascular bundle injury through location of mandibular canal by 3-dimensional (3-D) CT.


METHODS
30 female cases with prominent mandibular angle underwent 3-D CT before operation. The 3-D images were used to measure the distances between upper points of lower teeth to the inferior border of the canal. Then the osteotomy was designed according to the canal position to avoid the inferior alveolar neurovascular bundle injury. The canal protection was observed intraoperatively and postoperatively.


RESULTS
The mandibular canal was protected very well in all 30 cases without any injury to the inferior alveolar neurovascular bundle.


CONCLUSIONS
The 3-D CT can accurately locate the mandibular canal to guide the design of the mandibular angle osteotomy for patients with prominent mandibular angle.
Wang
Ji-Chang
JC
Department of Plastic Surgery, Second Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan 250033, China.
Gui
Lai
L
Zhang
Zhi-Yong
ZY
Niu
Feng
F
Cai
Jing-Long
JL
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D008334:Mandible / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000294:innervation / Q000601:surgery*; D008340:Mandibular Nerve / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D054259:Neural Tube / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed