Sonography and Radiography in the Diagnosis of Injuries of the Middle Zone of the Face

Abstract

The purpose is to evaluate possibilities of ultrasonography in the monitoring of various midfacial bone fractures.

Ultrasound examination was carried out on104 patients at the age of between 6 and 59 with trauma of the maxillofacial region. All of patients were examinated sonography, radiography and multislice computed tomography.

Fractures of the maxillofacial bones confirmed in 96 patients, including 36 isolated, 60 multiple and associated injuries of bones of the maxillofacial region. All injuries were identified by CT with 3D reconstruction, thus the method was adopted as verifying.

The ultrasonography findings revealed the following: interruption of the cortical layer with or without displacement of bone fragments, bone contour deformation. In comparison with an x-ray, ultrasonography was more sensitive in detecting fractures (94.0% to 81.5%), especially in fractures of the front wall of the maxillary sinus, articular and coronoid process of the mandible. Ultrasonographic examination was carried out with 17 patients after closed reposition. The unsatisfactory positions of bone fragments, which need re- repositioning, were detected in 5. In 7 patients sonography was used intraoperatively to control the repositioning of the bone fragments, thus making it possible to achieve satisfactory results after operations.

Ultrasonography has proved to be a valuable tool in detecting fractures in the facial bones in addition to x-ray examination. Particular value of sonography is a control for repositioning bone fragments.