Computed tomography in the evaluation of severe facial trauma

Computed tomography (CT) is a simple, rapid, and safe method of evaluating patients with severe facial trauma. It has its greatest value in defining the extent of soft tissue damage as well as in assessing the skeletal disruption. In a group of 32 patients with severe facial trauma, CT outlined the degree of soft tissue and skeletal fracture. In 13 of these patients who also underwent conventional pleuri-directional tomography CT was determined to be just as effective in identifying all fractures. CT was also shown to be useful for follow up evaluation of patients with previous severe facial trauma.