Effectiveness of ultrasonography in determining medial and lateral orbital wall fractures with a curved-array scanner.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of the study was to evaluate the diagnostic value of ultrasonography to determine medial and lateral orbital wall fractures.


METHODS
Sixty-two patients with the clinical diagnosis of an orbital trauma underwent coronal computed tomography (CCT) and ultrasonographic investigation (US). Inclusion criteria were clinically suspected orbital injuries defined by reduced bulbus motility, diplopia, or additional traumatic injuries of the orbit or the globe. US and CCT were used as imaging diagnostic methods.


RESULTS
Ultrasonography showed a sensitivity of 56%, a specificity of 95%, and an accuracy of 88% at the medial orbital rim. Regarding the lateral orbital rim, ultrasonography showed a sensitivity of 92%, a specificity of 88%, and an accuracy of 90% using CCT as a reference method.


CONCLUSIONS
Ultrasonography with a curved-array scanner seems to be a valuable method in the detection of lateral orbital wall fractures. Further studies have to be done to improve sensitivity in the interpretation of medial orbital wall fractures.
Jank
Siegfried
S
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria. siegfried.jank@gmx.de
Emshoff
Rüdiger
R
Strobl
Heinrich
H
Etzelsdorfer
Monika
M
Nicasi
Alessandro
A
Norer
Burghard
B
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009917:Orbital Fractures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014159:Transducers; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000295:instrumentation