title: Assessment of changing patterns of Le fort fracture lines using computed tomography scan: an observational study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the changing mid-face fracture patterns using a computed tomography scan.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty patients with mid-face trauma requiring open reduction and fixation were studied using 1.6 mm axial, sagittal, coronal and 3D images. Images were evaluated clinically, intra-operatively and finally were compared with standard Le Fort lines. Results. The male population dominated the female at a ratio of 11.5:1. The majority of the mid-face fractures were seen in the age group of 21-30 years. Road traffic accident (78%) was the major etiological factor followed by work-related accidents (12%) and assaults (10%). The CT scan analysis included categorizing the patients into three groups: (1) Fracture patterns resembling Le Fort lines (24%); (2) Fracture patterns partially resembling Le Fort lines (56%); and (3) Fracture patterns that do not resemble Le Fort lines (20%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  With the change in the velocity of wounding object, there is a change in the mid-face fracture patterns. The majority of the cases present as a variant of classical Le Fort fractures. Computed tomography is a valuable diagnostic tool in assessing the fractures of the mid-face. 2D images are more sensitive than 3D images. However, both the images are required in delivery of an optimal treatment plan.
authors.affiliation: Karnataka Cancer Therapy and Research Institute , Hubli, Karanataka , India.
authors.forename: Rashmi S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Patil
authors.forename: Tejraj P
authors.initials: TP
authors.lastname: Kale
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Kotrashetti
authors.forename: Shridhar D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Baliga
authors.forename: Namdeo
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Prabhu
authors.forename: Rakhi
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Issrani
mesh_terms: D000062:Accidents, Occupational; D000063:Accidents, Traffic; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005004:Ethmoid Bone / Q000293:injuries; D005147:Facial Bones / Q000293:injuries*; D005260:Female; D018460:Fractures, Comminuted / Q000145:classification / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008440:Maxillary Fractures / Q000145:classification / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008875:Middle Aged; D009295:Nasal Bone / Q000293:injuries; D009917:Orbital Fractures / Q000145:classification / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D021362:Palate, Hard / Q000293:injuries; D012737:Sex Factors; D012887:Skull Fractures / Q000145:classification / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*; D014754:Violence; D055815:Young Adult; D015051:Zygomatic Fractures / Q000145:classification / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging
keywords: 3D reconstruction images; Le Fort fracture; axial; coronal images; mid-face fractures; sagittal