Diagnostic Imaging Procedures for Facial Trauma Patients

Fractures associated with craniomaxillofacial trauma (CMFT) in dogs and cats are primarily the result of being hit by a car, a fight, or a fall from a great height. Although there is some information in the veterinary literature about the incidence and types of mandibular fractures in dogs and cats, little is known about concomitant maxillary fractures and temporomandibular joint injuries.

Until recently the diagnostic imaging modality most commonly used to assess animals with CMFT was conventional radiography. However, the skull is a difficult area to study radiographically because the bone structure is very complex, and superimposition of important structures makes detailed examination of individual parts difficult. In an attempt to avoid the detrimental effects of superimposition, many different radiographic views and angles are acquired so as to demonstrate individual structures or regions within the skull.

Because of these limitations, human patients who have sustained CMFT undergo computed tomography (CT) assessment of the skull; CT is considered the most accurate and useful diagnostic imaging procedure and conventional radiography is not necessarily performed anymore. Although CT units are primarily only available to veterinarians at academic institutions and large referral hospitals, they are becoming more available and affordable.

The role of imaging in the CMFT patient is to detect fractures, describe their morphology and topography, and evaluate if possible adjacent soft tissue damage. Clear and detailed diagnostic imaging is crucial for a precise diagnosis and treatment plan. Suboptimal imaging could lead to improper diagnosis, lack of treatment, or incorrect treatment. The purpose of a prospective study at UC Davis was to compare and evaluate the diagnostic yield and contribution of conventional radiographs and CT in dogs and cats with CMFT.  [...]