Radiological Shortening of the Ramus: A Reliable Guide for Diagnosis of Unilateral Mandibular Condylar Fracture

Abstract

Aim: The aim of this study was to assess and compare the radiological shortening of the ramal height on an Orthopantomogram (OPG) x-ray and Lateral Cephalogram for the diagnosis of a unilateral condylar fracture. Study Design: Comparative Study. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery (OMFS), Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences, Jamshoro, Hyderabad over a period of 6 months. Methodology: The study included 100 patients coming to the OMFS department, 50 of them with unilateralcondylar fracture made up the patient group, and the other 50 for the extraction of lower wisdom tooth comprised the control group. Both groups were having the standardized OPGs alone with lateral cephalograms with them, age ranging from 18 and above of either gender. The following linear mandibular measurements were obtained in mm such as body length, ramal height and ramal shortening using both of the radiographs, respectively. Mean values of left and right sides of the OPG and the lateral cephalogram were calculated for both the parameters that is ramus height and body length. Comparison of the said parameters was also done, subsequently.The collected data  was analyzed with the software SPSS 21.0 and Microsoft Excel. Results: A total of 100 patients had been assessed and compared on the basis of the radiological shortening of the ramal height on the OPG x-ray and Lateral Cephalogram. The obtained data showed that there was a decrease in the ramal height on OPG as well as Lateral Cephalogram of the fractured patients compared to the non-fractured side, but there was a decrease in the ramal  height of patients in the control group as well without having any fracture. Conclusion: The shortening of ramal height measured on an OPG and Lateral Cephalogram cannot be relied upon to diagnose a unilateral condylar fracture.