A Study to Evaluate the Efficacy of Ultrasonography as a Diagnostic Screening Tool in Maxillofacial Fractures: A Prospective Study.

Abstract

The aim of the study was to estimate the diagnostic efficacy of high-resolution ultrasonography (USG) in the diagnosis of maxillofacial fractures. A descriptive diagnostic evaluation study was carried out on 30 patients with suspected maxillofacial fractures, out of which 26 were male (86.7%) and 4 were female (13.3%). After initial management, detailed clinical examinations were carried out and significant findings were noted. Computed tomography (CT) scans were performed in fracture-suspecting patients followed by USG examination which was done in a standardized pattern on both sides of the face. The result of USG was compared with the CT scan report. Based on CT findings, 65 sites were found to be fractured, and this was considered the gold standard. Ultrasonography detected 58 fractures at these 780 sites, of which 54 were true fractures, while 4 were false-positive results. However, USG was not able to detect eleven fractures. The overall sensitivity and specificity of USG were 83.1% and 99%, respectively. The positive and negative predictive values were 93% and 98%, respectively. According to our study, it may be concluded that USG may be recommended as a diagnostic screening tool to detect superficial maxillofacial fractures. Ultrasonography provides a safe, cost-effective, reliable, non-invasive, easily available, and portable imaging modality to screen for maxillofacial fractures.