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.
Highlights
In recent studies, mandible has proved to be the most frequently fractured bone [1]
Purpose of this study is to evaluate the ramal height shortening in patients with unilateral condylar fracture, compare them with the difference of ramal height found in a control group and to clarify the possible application of OPG for evaluating the linear measurements of mandible in diagnosing the unilateral condylar fracture by comparing it with Lateral Cephalogram
Diagnosis of the fracture was done on the basis of clinical examination and radiographical evaluation using an OPG and lateral cephalogram taken from the radiology department of Advanced Dental Care Centre, Hyderabad (ADCC)
Summary
Mandible has proved to be the most frequently fractured bone [1]. Mandibular fractures are almost 25.3% - 65.1% of all maxillofacial fractures [2]. This bone is more prone to fracture due to its mobility, position, prominence and lack of bony support, it is the largest and strongest of the facial bones [3]. The gender ratio varies between 2:1-4:1 i.e. the former being male and later being female and most of the patients are in their twenties [4]. Condyle fracture most commonly occurs in the mandible fracture. The condylar process is liable because of its attachment which is with low stiffness on the neck area while that with the ramus is with high stiffness [5]
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