The comparison of physical and radiologic finding in referral cases of nasal bone trauma to East Azarbabaijan Legal Medicine Center and epidemiologic finding between 2007 and 2008

Nasal bone fracture is the most common fracture which would result from facial trauma. Discrimination between new and old nasal bone fractures, because of its big penalty in religious aspects, is a great challenge in order to prevent any injustice in courts. This was a case-series study. 1019 of referrals to East Azarbaijan Legal Medicine Center between 2007 and 2008 had the claim of nasal bone trauma. At first, they physically examined by general practitioners. Plain lateral radiography and ENT consult were requested afterwards. Most of cases were male (87.6%) the age range was 20 years. Most of them were under diploma or near diploma and 44.3% had free job. The time range between stroke and medical examination was 3-2 days. In otolaryngology examination nasal fracture was reported at 51.9% of cases but in radiographies was 60.4%. The most common positive signs at ENT were inflammation and although nearly 80% of clinical findings were similar to radiologic results, this similarity was not showed at 20% of them. With regard to dissimilarity between clinical and radiologic findings at 20% of cases, it is necessary to apply other exactly diagnostic methods like CT scan in order to find which one of the mentioned ways is more reliable.