Ultrasound as a Diagnostic Tool in Detection of Maxillofacial Fractures at Level 1 Trauma Centre ED in India

Background

Injuries, especially maxillofacial fractures, pose a significant global health burden exacerbated by increasing traffic activities. Early detection is vital for preventing complications. This study assesses ultrasound's diagnostic efficacy, aiming to improve patient management and minimise treatment delays by detecting maxillofacial fractures promptly and accurately.

Objective

The main aim was to assess point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) in diagnosing maxillofacial fractures against computed tomography (CT) scans. Secondary goals included identifying ocular injuries, mandibular fractures, assessing probe feasibility and comparing Le Fort classification via ultrasound and CT.

Methodology

Between January 2019 and February 2021, 150 trauma patients (136 male) with a mean age of 28.5 ± 5 years (range, 18–62 years) suspected of maxillofacial fractures were enrolled. A trained physician performed facial ultrasound, and findings were documented alongside CT scan results. Using the SPSS software, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV) and diagnostic accuracy of POCUS against CT scans were analysed.

Results

Among 150 patients, CT scans diagnosed 137 with maxillofacial fractures, primarily due to road traffic accidents. Zygomatic fractures were most common, followed by nasal bone and mandibular parasymphysial fractures. POCUS exhibited high sensitivity (98.9%), specificity (99.1%), PPV (92%), and NPV (99.8%) for overall facial fractures, varying by bone. Associated occult ocular injuries occurred in two patients. Sensitivity and specificity were high for mandibular fractures. 5–10 MHz frequency linear probe, footprint-50 mm was optimal for midfacial bones, but Le Fort fractures could not be reliably identified using ultrasound.

Conclusion

The study underscores the value of POCUS in the Emergency Department for detecting maxillofacial fractures, despite limitations such as anatomical challenges. POCUS showed high diagnostic accuracy, emphasising its potential in clinical practice, requiring further validation and exploration.