The use of digital C-arm fluoroscopy in the surgical removal of foreign bodies from maxillofacial region

Foreign bodies are often encountered by oral and maxillofacial surgeons and may present a diagnostic challenge, due to many factors such as the size of the object, the difficult access and a close anatomical relationship of the foreign body to vital structures. A 23 year old male reported to the Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery Department with the chief complaint of pain and irritation on the left cheek region since 56 months. While giving the history the patient revealed that he had traumatic injury due to a road traffic accident eight months earlier. He had sustained multiple lacerations on the left side of the face which were primarily closed at that time. On examination, a scar was noticed on the left side of the face. A swelling was present on the left side of face at the lateral surface of the mandibular ramus. Panoramic Radiograph and Computed Tomography Scan revealed several well defined radio-opacities at the left side of the mandibular ramus region. A provisional diagnosis of foreign body embedded in soft tissue was considered. This article describes the use of the C-arm digital fluoroscope for retrieval of foreign bodies from maxillofacial region.