Frequency of mandibular canal fenestration in multislice computerized tomography images

Introduction: knowledge of the anatomical changes that affect the mandibular canal (MC) is important, as it is for performing mandibular surgical procedures and the presence of these variables can compromise or be successful in the procedure. MC fenestration is a variation characterized by the exposure of the inferior alveolar neurovascular bundle (IANC) due to lack of bone cortical, without being associated with pathological processes, consequently, increasing the risks and damage and the same when surgical procedures in the region. Objective: to analyze by means of multidetector computed tomography (CT) the frequency of fenestration in the cortical of the mandible, in the course of the MC and to relate with age, sex and affected side. Methodology: the sample consisted of 150 CT examinations of the mandible, in a total of 300 MC evaluated. As an inclusion criterion, the exam should allow the observation of the entire length of the MC. Examinations that presented bone diseases or metallic artifacts that made it difficult to observe the area of interest were excluded. All examinations were reviewed by an evaluator twice with a minimum interval of 1 week between evaluations, and the results were analyzed by descriptive statistical analysis. Results: of the 300 MC analyzed, 1% of the sample, which is equivalent to three cases, presented fenestration of the MC, all of which were located on the left side of the mandible. In two cases, fenestration was associated with third molars included in a horizontal position. Conclusion: CM fenestration was a rare anatomical variation in the evaluated sample, but it was more frequently associated with impacted third molars in a horizontal position. (author)