title: [Significance of location of mandibular canal by 3-dimensional CT in the mandibular angle osteotomy].
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic Surgery, Second Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan 250033, China.
authors.forename: Ji-Chang
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Lai
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gui
authors.forename: Zhi-Yong
authors.initials: ZY
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Feng
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Niu
authors.forename: Jing-Long
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Cai
mesh_terms: 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