Ultrasound imaging of intracranial foreign bodies study on firearm injury

Abstract

Objective To explore the specific ultrasonic manifestation features of intracranial foreign bodies after firearm injury,and to evaluate the value of ultrasonography in detecting intracranial foreign bodies.Methods ① The specific ultrasonic manifestation features of intracranial foreign bodies were summarized by making ultrasonic scanning over known foreign bodies of different types inserted before hand in around the injury tracts.②With the summary,ultrasonic scanning was made to the foreign bodies with unknown size and types,the result was confirmed with the fetched-out foreign bodies,and the coincidence of ultrasonography in scanning the intracranial foreign bodies after firearm injury was evaluated.Results Ultrasonography could distinguish intracranial foreign bodies from brain parenchyma,intraeranial foreign bodies of different types had different ultrasonic manifestation features.The size and the materials of the foreign bodies had certain affection on the result of ultrasonic scanning.The accuracy of qualitative judgement in scanning the intracranial foreign bodies was 71.52％,and the accuracy in scanning the foreign bodies with diameter ＞ 0.5 cm was higher than that with the diameter ＜ 0.5 cm.The coincidence in qualitative judgement of the foreign bodies of different materials ranged as follows:bullet (97 ％ )＞ steel ball (81.13％),bone pieces (78％) and glasses (72％) ＞gauze (54.67％) and wood pieces (54.67％).Conclusions The intracranial foreign bodies of different materials have specific ultrasonic manifestation features and ultrasonography can scan out their locations.The coincidence of qualitative judgement in scanning the bodies with diameter over 0.5 cm is high.Ultrasonography may be of important significance in guiding the fetch-out of intracranial foreign bodies on the spot and in raising the rescuing level of firearm injury. Key words: Ultrasonography; Foreign bodies; Craniocerebral trauma ; Wounds,gunshot