Usefulness of ultrasonography in the treatment of nasal bone fractures.
BACKGROUND
Ultrasonography has recently been used in assessment and diagnosis of maxillofacial trauma because it is easy and quick to perform, inexpensive, portable, and noninvasive. The aim of this study was to estimate ultrasonography as an intraoperative repositioning control of nasal bone fractures.


METHODS
We studied 32 patients with suspected nasal bone fracture. We performed preoperative computed tomography (CT) for evaluation of the type and extent of nasal bone fractures. We also took external photographs for evaluation of external deviation of the nose and nasal deformity. During surgery, we performed real-time ultrasonography-guided closed reduction using a 10 MHz linear transducer. After 1 year, we performed postoperative evaluation with CT and external photography. We classified patients into three groups according to their CT score.


RESULTS
Patients were 23 males and 9 females aged 8-39 years. Clinical symptoms were pain, nasal swelling, nasal bleeding, and localized depression at the trauma site. In almost all patients, postoperative external photographs showed a symmetrical nasal dorsum without external deformity, and postoperative CT showed stabilization of bony fragments and good alignment of the nasal bone. Postoperatively, the CT score was 3 (excellent) in 25 patients, 2 (good) in 5 patients, and 1 (fair) in 2 patients.


CONCLUSIONS
We suggest that ultrasonography is very useful for evaluating intraoperative repositioning of nasal bone fractures.
Park
Chan-Hum
CH
Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Chuncheon Sacred Heart Hospital, School of Medicine, Hallym University, Kyo-Dong, Chuncheon, Kangwon, Korea. hlpch@paran.com
Joung
Ho-Hoon
HH
Lee
Jun-Ho
JH
Hong
Seok Min
SM
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009295:Nasal Bone / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000293:injuries* / Q000601:surgery; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D018084:Ultrasonography, Interventional