Advanced Magnetic Resonance Imaging for Perioperative Evaluation of Dental, Oral and Maxillofacial Trauma

Launched by HARALD ESSIG · Jun 4, 2025

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This is an observational study at the University Hospital Zurich to see how well magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can help diagnose dental, oral, and facial injuries after trauma. Researchers want to compare MRI (including newer, low-radiation techniques called Black Bone and CT-like MRI) with the standard X-ray-based tests (like CT/CBCT) to see if MRI can accurately find fractures and also reduce imaging artifacts around any metal hardware after surgery. The main things they’ll look at are the overall image quality and precise measurements of fracture size, with two radiologists checking the results to keep them unbiased.

If eligible, about 60 adults with acute maxillofacial trauma who can give informed consent and who haven’t had radiation imaging for this injury will be invited to participate. Key criteria include being 18 or older and able to undergo MRI. People who are pregnant, have MRI contraindications (like certain implants), have other conditions that could affect imaging, can’t participate in the study procedures, or are enrolled in other conflicting trials would not be eligible. The study is currently enrolling by invitation and is expected to run through 2025, with imaging data collected during the early care period (about up to 5 weeks from enrollment).

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Patients presenting with acute dental, oral and maxillofacial trauma
• • Age: 18 years and older
• • Able to give informed consent (documented by signature)
• • No prior radiation-based imaging for the current trauma episode
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Pregnant or lactating individuals
• • Known contraindications to MRI (e.g., pacemakers, certain implants)
• • Clinically significant concomitant diseases affecting imaging quality (e.g., severe neurocognitive disorders)
• • Inability to comply with MRI procedures or study protocol (e.g., due to language barriers, psychological disorders, or dementia)
• • Participation in other clinical trials that may interfere with the imaging study