2D and 3D CT scan - A diagnostic adjunct or necessity in maxillofacial trauma

With wider availability of the CT scanners, it is increasingly used as the first line investigation to assist clinical diagnosis and treatment planning and to provide more details where a significant maxillofacial injury cannot be simply assessed from plain films. In acutely injured patient the CT scan provides the most effective, safe and reasonably rapid diagnosis of the complex pattern of multiple fractures of facial skeleton along with soft tissue injuries along with intracranial and cervical spine injury as compared to conventional radiographs. It is desirable to obtain CT for maxillofacial trauma where cost and equipment facility are not limiting factors.