Abstract

Dr. Fawaz Nadeem BDS, RDS, *Dr. Asif Nazir, Dr. Neha Usman BDS, RDS, Dr. Imran Saleh, Dr. Asfer Husain BDS, RDS, Dr. Samera Kiran BDS, RDS and Professor Dr. Muhammad Usman Akhtar BDS, MCPS, MDS

ABSTRACT

Background: Oral and maxillofacial region is a very prominent area of human body and is actively involved in different body functions. Foreign bodies may get penetrated in this region during function, professional working, traumatic assaults, inter-personal violence, falls, self-inflicted injuries or iatrogenically during maxillofacial surgical procedure. Objective: To present wide variety of foreign body’s invasion in maxillofacial region, their exact localization and challenges encountered during their surgical removal. Methodology: The patients with history of foreign body invasion presenting to Out Patient Departments of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Units of de’Montmorency College of Dentistry Lahore and Nishtar Institute of Dentistry Multan were selected. A structured proforma was used to record patient’s demographic data, type of foreign body and its clinical and radiographic presentation. Patients were selected for surgical removal of foreign bodies after complete assessment and exact localization of foreign body. Results: Of the total 48 patients, 75% were male and 25% female patients. The foreign bodies due gunshot injuries were the most common (29.16%) followed by broken osteosynthesis material (22.92%). Plain radiographs are most commonly used for assessment of foreign bodies. CT scan is a very useful imaging tool for three dimensional assessment of foreign bodied in maxillofacial region. Conclusion: The foreign bodies if superficially located may be easily palpable and can be removed easily under local anaesthesia. Deeply penetrated foreign bodies need meticulous radiographic assessment for proper localization and their retrieval from oral and maxillofacial region require different types of surgical techniques under general anaesthesia.