Comparison of Ultrasonography and Conventional Radiography in the Diagnosis of Nasal Bone Fractures

Abstract

Aim: Comparison of Ultrasonography and Conventional Radiography in the Diagnosis of
Nasal Bone Fractures.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in the Department of Radiology, VIMS
Pawapuri, Nalanda, Bihar, India for 2 years.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 Se
of ultrasonography and conventional radiography was 94% and 81%, respectively; the Sp 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.