To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of ultrasonography in detecting nasal bone fractures compared with CT as the reference method

Abstract

Aim: To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of ultrasonography in detecting nasal bone fractures compared with CT as the reference method. Methods: The present study was conducted in the Department of Radiology, Narayana Superspeciality Hospital, Howrah, West Bengal, India from May 2018 to may 2019.The conventional Waters and lateral nasal bone view radiography and high resolution ultrasonography of 200 patients (150 men, 50 women; mean age, 22 years (range: 12–58 years) with a clinical or forensic indication for the evaluation of nasal bone fracture were investigated. The negative likelihood ratio (LR-), positive likelihood ratio (LR+), specificity (Sp) and sensitivity (Se) were used for determining the diagnostic accuracy. The negative predictive value (NPV) and the positive predictive value (PPV) were also determined. Results: Of 160 fracture lines in patients with a clinically diagnosed nasal bone fracture, conventional radiography detected 140, while ultrasonography detected 152 fractures. The Sensitivity of ultrasonography and conventional radiography was 94% and 81%, respectively; the Specificity was 99% and 86%, respectively. Conclusion: High-resolution ultrasonography can be used as an accurate technique for evaluating nasal bone fracture. Conventional radiography can be replaced by high-resolution ultrasonography.

Keywords: Nasal Bone, Fracture, Ultrasonography, Radiography.