Limitations of B-scan ultrasound for diagnosing fractures of the mandibular condyle and ramus

Influence of Method of Treatment of Mandibular Condylar Fractures on Range of Articular Path Measured by Cadiax Device

Background/Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the function of the treated temporomandibular joint based on the analysis of the image of the articular path using the Cadiax device depending on the choice of treatment method for unilateral condylar fracture of the mandible. Methods: Sixty patients who were treated for condylar fractures of the mandible at the Maxil-lofacial Surgery Department in Katowice were qualified for the analysis of the range of movements of the mandibular heads using the Cadiax device. From the group of patients who suffered fractures of the mandible, including condylar processes, patients were finally qualified for the measurement of the articular path of the injured and healthy joint according to strict criteria. Results: The condylar examination was performed in 20 patients who had conservative condylar fracture treatment and 40 patients who underwent various surgeries in the course of a single condylar fracture. The control group consisted of 20 patients whose mean values for the articular pathway measured for both sides were 12.73 and 12.69 and fell within the standard developed for healthy joints tested with the Cadiax device. Conclusions: We have achieved an almost ideal treatment for condylar fractures. We are also beginning to notice the need for rehabilitation of patients after this type of surgery.

A Study to Evaluate the Efficacy of Ultrasonography as a Diagnostic Screening Tool in Maxillofacial Fractures: A Prospective Study

AIM

The aim of the study was to estimate the diagnostic efficacy of high-resolution ultrasonography (USG) in the diagnosis of maxillofacial fractures.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A descriptive diagnostic evaluation study was carried out on 30 patients with suspected maxillofacial fractures, out of which 26 were male (86.7%) and 4 were female (13.3%). After initial management, detailed clinical examinations were carried out and significant findings were noted. Computed tomography (CT) scans were performed in fracture-suspecting patients followed by USG examination which was done in a standardized pattern on both sides of the face. The result of USG was compared with the CT scan report.

RESULT

Based on CT findings, 65 sites were found to be fractured, and this was considered the gold standard. Ultrasonography detected 58 fractures at these 780 sites, of which 54 were true fractures, while 4 were false-positive results. However, USG was not able to detect eleven fractures. The overall sensitivity and specificity of USG were 83.1% and 99%, respectively. The positive and negative predictive values were 93% and 98%, respectively.

CONCLUSION

According to our study, it may be concluded that USG may be recommended as a diagnostic screening tool to detect superficial maxillofacial fractures.

CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE

Ultrasonography provides a safe, cost-effective, reliable, non-invasive, easily available, and portable imaging modality to screen for maxillofacial fractures.

Ultrasound-Guided Targeted vs Regional Flooding: A Comparative Study for Improving the Clinical Outcome in Soft Tissue Filler Vascular Adverse Event Management

BACKGROUND

Adverse vascular event management following hyaluronic acid-based aesthetic injections relies on the administration of hyaluronidase which is capable of enzymatically degrading the injected product and improving clinical symptoms. Two protocols are currently available to manage such complications: "ultrasound-guided targeted" and "flooding".

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to compare the 2 protocols in terms of the volume of hyaluronidase utilized, and the onset and degree of clinical improvement.

METHODS

A comparative case series of 39 patients was retrospectively evaluated. The patients were initially treated with the "flooding" protocol and then treated with the "ultrasound-guided targeted" protocol due to no or little improvement.

RESULTS

The "ultrasound-guided targeted" protocol utilized a mean [standard deviation] total of 122.5 [34] IU of hyaluronidase, whereas the "flooding" protocol utilized 1519.4 [1137] IU, which represents a statistically significant reduced amount of injected hyaluronidase (P = 0.028). There was no clinical improvement in 92.3% and only little improvement in 7.7% of the treated patients following the first applied "flooding" protocol, but there was a 100% immediate improvement when subsequently treated with the "ultrasound-guided targeted" protocol. Ultrasound imaging revealed that the application of hyaluronidase restored normal blood flow both in the perivascular space and in the superficially located subdermal soft tissues.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite its limitations in study design, this retrospectively evaluated case series revealed that the "ultrasound-guided targeted" protocol utilized less hyaluronidase and restored clinically visible symptoms faster. The effect of this protocol is best explained by the perforasome concept which will need to be investigated further in future studies.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 4

The applications of ultrasound, and ultrasonography in dentistry: a scoping review of the literature

OBJECTIVES

This scoping review aims to summarize the available literature on the clinical applications of ultrasonography and ultrasound in diagnostic, therapeutic, and interventional dental applications.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses, Extension for Scoping Reviews checklist and conducted a protocol-driven scoping review of randomized controlled trials, cohort studies, cross-sectional studies, case-control studies, and case series that assessed ultrasonography or ultrasound use as a stand-alone diagnostic, therapeutic, and interventional tool in dentistry. We included studies published after 1980, study samples ≥ 10, with diagnostic, concordance, or therapeutic outcomes. We searched Ovid MEDLINE, Embase, and others (up to April 2021) and extracted information regarding study level, patient level, test or treatment level, and outcome level data.

RESULTS

Five interventional studies (related to oral medicine, temporomandibular disorders, and dental anesthesia), eight therapeutic studies (related to surgery and orthodontics), and seventy-five diagnostic studies (related to orthodontics, surgery, endodontics, oral medicine, temporomandibular disorders, restorative dentistry, and periodontology) were identified and presented in this review.

CONCLUSION

Ultrasonography has a well-established niche in diagnostic dentistry, while therapeutic and interventional ultrasounds have a smaller, yet present, niche in dentistry. However, further research is needed to report the precise estimates of the diagnostic, therapeutic, and interventional effects.

CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE

Dentists are mostly unfamiliar with ultrasonography and ultrasound and their potential uses. This review maps the diagnostic and therapeutic applications of ultrasonography and ultrasound technology in dentistry and highlights the current challenges, gaps of knowledge, and research status of ultrasound technology in this regard.

Diagnostic Accuracy of Ultrasonography for the Assessment of Maxillofacial Fractures: A Meta-analysis

Objective

To evaluate the pooled sensitivity and specificity of ultrasonography (USG) in maxillofacial fractures.

Materials and Methods

A systematic search was performed in five databases (PubMed, Scopus, CINAHL, Web of Science, Dentistry and Oral Sciences Source) from inception to September 12, 2020. Studies that reported or from which sensitivity and specificity can be calculated and studies published in the English language were included. Conference proceedings, letter to editors, and case reports were excluded. Screening of studies, data extraction, and risk of bias assessment (QUADAS -2) were done separately by two review authors. A bivariate random-effects model was used to calculate the pooled estimates.

Results

After the removal of duplicates, 1852 studies were included for screening of title and abstracts. Only 22 studies were included in the quantitative synthesis. The sample size ranged from 6 to 87. The majority of the studies assessed orbit and nasal bones fractures. Only two studies included a comprehensive assessment of facial fractures. The overall sensitivity and specificity values were 0.94 and 0.96, respectively.

Conclusion

USG has good diagnostic accuracy for the assessment of fractures of orbit and nasal bones. Clinicians need to consider the advantages and limitations of USG before recommending advanced imaging modalities.

Preauricular Swelling Mimicking a Tumour: Dissolution of Mandibular Capitulum Following Trauma in a 15-Year Old Child

AIM

The report is about diagnosis, therapy, and follow-up of a 15-year old boy, who experienced facial swelling and impaired mouth opening after a sport accident.

CASE REPORT

Diagnosis of mandibular damage was delayed due to inadequate clinical investigation and radiography after trauma and only became clear after a parotid swelling occurred sometime later resulting from the dissolution of the upper part of the articular process. Follow-up control over a period of three years showed a partial restoration of the articular process but some inhibition of mouth opening combined with slight deviation of the mandible to the affected side remained over the years.

CONCLUSION

This report reminds us that parotid swelling can be the result of mandibular trauma without a recent history of physical injury to this region. Therefore, the basic standards of radiologic diagnosis should be maintained and the limited restoring capacity of the condylar process in adolescence should be acknowledged.

Is Ultrasonography Efficient for the Detection of the Zygomatic Arch, Nasal Bone and Cartilage Fractures?

Background:

The high incidence of nasal and zygomatic arch fractures highlights the need for an accurate imaging modality for their detection. The superimposition of structures is a major problem in conventional radiography. Ultrasonography is a low-cost imaging modality with a wide range of applications, that does not employ ionizing radiation. This study aimed to assess the efficacy of ultrasonography for the detection of the zygomatic arch and nasal bone fractures.

Materials and Methods:

This study was conducted on 16 sheep heads. Artificial fractures were created in some parts of the zygomatic arch, dorsum and lateral wall of the nose, and nasal cartilage. All sheep heads underwent Cone-Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) to ensure the presence of a fracture. Next, the lateral nasal and submentovertex radiographs were obtained, and ultrasonography was performed with a 12-15 MHz linear probe. Ultrasonography and radiography were repeated after 1 week to assess their reproducibility by calculating the kappa coefficient. Data were analyzed using Stata 11 software and Chi-square test.

Results:

The specificity and sensitivity of ultrasonography ranged from 87% to 100%, and 50% to 75%, respectively. The specificity and sensitivity of radiography ranged from 87% to 100%, and 62% to 87%, respectively. The differences between the two imaging modalities were not statistically significant (p>0.05). The kappa coefficient ranged from 46% to 100% for ultrasonography and 44% to 87% for radiography.

Conclusion:

Ultrasonography seemed useful for the detection of displaced bone and cartilage fractures. For non-displaced fractures, US is not recommended.

A systematic review of the diagnostic role of ultrasonography in maxillofacial fractures

This systematic review assessed the diagnostic value of ultrasonography in maxillofacial fractures. A computerized literature search of MEDLINE, PubMed and GoogleMed databases was conducted for publications on diagnostic ultrasound and maxillofacial fractures in English. Search phrases were 'maxillofacial fractures' or 'midfacial fractures' or 'zygomatic complex fractures' or 'nasal bone fractures' or 'orbital fractures' or 'mandibular fractures' combined with 'ultrasound' or 'ultrasonography'. The Boolean operator 'AND' was used to narrow the searches. 17 articles published between 1992 and 2009 were reviewed: two on midfacial fractures, nine on orbital fractures, three on nasal fractures, and two on mandibular fractures. One article described case series of ultrasonographic diagnosis of mandibular and midfacial fractures. The sensitivity and specificity of ultrasound in detecting orbital fractures were 56-100% and 85-100%, respectively, whilst that of nasal fractures were 90-100% and 98-100%, respectively. Sensitivity and specificity of ultrasonography in detecting zygomatic fractures were >90%. For mandibular fractures, the sensitivity and specificity was 66-100% and 52-100%, respectively. Much evidence justifies the use of diagnostic ultrasonography in maxillofacial fractures, especially fractures involving the nasal bone, orbital walls, anterior maxillary wall and zygomatic complex. The sensitivity and specificity of ultrasonography is generally comparable with CT.

Comparison of ultrasonography with submentovertex films and computed tomography scan in the diagnosis of zygomatic arch fractures

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to compare ultrasonography with CT scan and submentovertex films in the visualization of zygomatic arch fractures.

METHODS

17 patients, 10 men and 7 women, with suspected fracture of the zygomatic arch were studied. The data from CT and plain films were compared with the ultrasonographic findings (Aloka 3500 (Tokyo, Japan) ultrasound equipment with a 7.5 MHz transducer). The probe was situated over the fractured arch transversely to evaluate its whole length. All of the sonograms were taken and interpreted by the same sonologist, who was not aware of the results of the CT and the plain films.

RESULTS

Ultrasound was accurate in assessing the fractured arches with sensitivity of 88.2% (15 of the 17 patients, with two false negatives) and specificity of 100% (no false positives).

CONCLUSION

Ultrasound is accurate in the visualization of zygomatic arch fractures and can be used as an adjunct to plain films to reduce the overall radiation exposure.

Validation of a new training tool for ultrasound as a diagnostic modality in suspected midfacial fractures

The aim of this study was to test a previously described training tool for ultrasound for use as a first-line imaging modality. Navigated sonography was performed in 10 patients with midfacial fractures diagnosed using computed tomography (CT). One examiner ranked his sonographic findings regarding the presence of a fracture on six predefined anatomic landmarks on a scale from 1 to 5. These results were correlated with CT findings by displaying fused images. In all but three patients fractures were correctly identified using sonography. In the remaining three patients the examiner was unable to determine whether a fracture was present or not. Normally, these patients would have been subjected to conventional radiographs. Ultrasound proved to be a reliable first-line imaging modality for the investigation of suspected midfacial fractures in daily clinical practice, resulting in decreased radiation exposure since conventional radiographs are omitted. According to this algorithm, patients with sonographically confirmed midfacial fractures are examined for surgical planning using cone-beam CT.

The role of intraoperative ultrasonography in zygomatic complex fracture repair

Intraoperative assessment of the zygomatic arch is very important in achieving adequate repositioning. The correct alignment of the zygomatic arch indicates the proper position of the zygomatic bone and ensures adequate prominence of the lateral midfacial aspect. The aim of this study was to estimate the value of ultrasonography as an intraoperative repositioning control. In a clinical study of 25 patients, ultrasonography was employed for intraoperative visualization of the zygomatic arch before and after fracture repositioning. Twelve patients presented with isolated zygomatic arch fractures and 13 with combined fractures of the zygomatic bone and arch. The ultrasonographic findings were compared to the radiological and clinical findings. Ultrasonography was able to detect all fractures and dislocations of the zygomatic arch. It was possible to assess the repositioning in 24 out of 25 cases using ultrasonography. The ultrasound images were concordant with the radiographs. Clinical assessment by palpation only succeeded in isolated zygomatic arch fractures with an m-shaped impression, whereas it remained uncertain in nearly all cases with a different dislocation pattern. Ultrasonography was rapid and easy to perform, and is recommended as an intraoperative visualizing tool in all midfacial fractures with displacement of the zygomatic arch.

The role of ultrasound in monitoring reconstruction of mandibular continuity defects using osteogenic protein-1 (rhOP-1)

Introducing bone bioengineering concepts in craniofacial surgery demands development of novel imaging strategies, which overcome the shortcomings of radiography such as exposure to ionizing radiation. This study is aimed to investigate the usefulness of ultrasonography (US) in monitoring reconstruction of continuity osteoperiosteal mandibular defects in sheep using rhOP-1. The study was conducted on six adult sheep in which a critical size defect was created at the body of the mandible and was reconstructed using rhOP-1 with type-I collagen as a carrier. Ultrasound images were used to assess onset of bone formation, contour, and surface topography. The results were then compared to corresponding plain radiographs and to post-mortem observations. US showed bone union in all the subjects that concurred with radiographic and post-mortem examinations. US was superior to plain radiography in monitoring early events of ossification. However, it was relatively less efficient in describing the contour of the newly formed bone. It was possible to describe the pattern of bone formation and the dynamic changes in contour and surface topography via US during the follow-up period. In experienced hands, ultrasonography can offer valuable information about bone healing comparable with those obtained by plain radiography. US may replace plain radiography in becoming a routinely used tool for monitoring bone healing in selected sites of the craniofacial skeleton.