Lateral positioning of the nasal bones using digital radiography.

Computed Radiography For computed radiography, a technologist places an 8 × 10-inch imaging plate into the upright Bucky, setting it directly onto the bottom lip of the cassette holder. The imaging plate should be pulled out of the T he nasal bones consist of 2 fused bones that help to form the bridge of the nose and can vary in size among adults (see Figure 1). Because the nose is a prominent facial feature, it is often the site of trauma. The nasal bones are the most commonly fractured facial bones, and these fractures are statistically more prevalent among men than women, at a ratio of 2:1, with a significant peak in the 15to 25-year-old male population. Adult nasal fractures typically result from altercations, sports injuries, motor vehicle accidents, and falls. The degree of force required to fracture the nasal bones is relatively small (25-75 lb of pressure) compared with the surrounding midfacial structures. Patients with nasal fractures usually exhibit some degree of deformity, tenderness, hemorrhage, edema, and instability. In radiography, imaging the nasal bones is common. Typical protocol includes a Waters or Caldwell and bilateral lateral images. Both sides of the nasal bones are examined for comparison. Over the years, using film-screen techniques and theory, educators taught positioning of the lateral nasal bones with the patient lying semiprone on the table with his or her head turned into either a left or right lateral position. Many newer radiography positioning books still demonstrate this practice. However, for injured, elderly, or immobile patients, this position is difficult.