Abstract

MORAES, Rafaela Scariot de; SILVA, Rafael Vilson da; FELIX JUNIOR, Wanderley da Silva  and  REBELATTO, Nelson Luís Barbosa. Application of the image intensifier for removal of broken needles from the pterygomandibular space. Rev. cir. traumatol. buco-maxilo-fac. [online]. 2010, vol.10, n.3, pp. 9-12. ISSN 1808-5210.

Oral and maxilla-facial surgeons often encounter foreign bodies, such as fractured needles, bullets from a firearm and others, in the head and neck region. An accurate assessment of their position is of fundamental importance for their removal. The techniques used nowadays to locate an object in soft tissues are conventional radiographs, computed tomography scans, magnetic resonance imaging, ultrasound, metal detectors and image intensifiers. In the case of fractured needles, the use of the image intensifier has been showing benefits compared with other methods, as it provides dynamic and rapid intraoperative images at various angles. The aim of this paper is to report our experience using the image intensifier for removal of fractured needles, based on a clinical case.

Keywords : Needle; fracture; local anesthesia; image.