Simultaneous head and facial computed tomography scans for assessing facial fractures in patients with traumatic brain injury

The association between head injury and facial fracture treatment: an observational study of hospitalized bicyclists from a level 1 trauma centre

PURPOSE

To compare the types of facial fractures and their treatment in bicyclists admitted to a level 1 trauma centre with major and minor-moderate head injury.

METHODS

Retrospective analysis of data from bicycle-related injuries in the period 2005-2016 extracted from the Oslo University Hospital trauma registry.

RESULTS

A total of 967 bicyclists with head injuries classified according to the Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS) were included. The group suffering minor-moderate head injury (AIS Head 1-2) included 518 bicyclists, while 449 bicyclists had major head injury (AIS Head 3-6). The mean patient age was 40.2 years (range 3-91 years) and 701 patients (72%) were men. A total of 521 facial fractures were registered in 262 patients (on average 2 facial fractures per bicyclist). Bicyclists with major head injury exhibited increased odds for facial fractures compared to bicyclists with minor-moderate head injury (sex and age adjusted odds ratio (OR) 2.75, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.03-3.72, p < 0.001. More specifically, there was increased odds for all midface fractures, but no difference for mandible fractures. There was also increased odds for orbital reconstruction in cyclist with major head injury compared to bicyclist with minor-moderate head injury (adjusted OR 3.34, 95% CI 1.30-8.60, p = 0.012).

CONCLUSION

Bicyclists with more severe head injuries had increased odds for midface fractures and surgical correction of orbital fractures. During trauma triage, the head and the face should be considered as one unit.

Evaluation of Concomitant Facial Fracture in Traumatic Brain Injury Patients-Simplification and External Validation of a Prediction Model

BACKGROUND

Patients with traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) often experience concurrent facial bone fractures. In 2021, a prediction model with 10 variables was published and precisely predicted concomitant facial fractures in TBI patients. Herein, external validation and simplification of this model was performed.

METHODS

Traumatic brain injury patients treated at a major referral trauma center were retrospectively reviewed for 1 year. The original prediction model (published in 2021), which was developed from a rural level II trauma center, was applied for external validation. A new and simplified model from our level I trauma center was developed and backwardly validated by rural level II trauma center data.

RESULTS

In total, 313 TBI patients were enrolled; 101 (32.3%) had concomitant facial fractures. When the previous prediction model was applied to the validation cohort, it achieved acceptable discrimination, with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of 0.713 and good precision, with a Brier score of 0.083. A new and simplified model with 6 variables (age, tooth rupture, epistaxis, facial lesion, eye injury, and intracranial hemorrhage) was created with excellent discrimination (AUC = 0.836) and good precision (Brier score of 0.055). The backward validation of this new model also showed excellent discrimination in the cohort used to develop the original model (AUC = 0.875).

CONCLUSION

The original model provides an acceptable and reproducible prediction of concomitant facial fractures among TBI patients. A simplified model with fewer variables and the same accuracy could be applied in the emergency department and at higher- and lower-level trauma centers.

Are Magnetic Resonance Imaging-Generated 3Dimensional Models Comparable to Computed Tomography-Generated 3Dimensional Models for Orbital Fracture Reconstruction? An In-Vitro Volumetric Analysis

BACKGROUND

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is being increasingly considered as an alternative for the evaluation and reconstruction of orbital fractures. No previous research has compared the orbital volume of an MRI-imaged, three-dimensional (3D), reconstructed, and virtually restored bony orbit to the gold standard of computed tomography (CT).

PURPOSE

To measure the orbital volumes generated from MRI-based 3D models of fractured bony orbits with virtually positioned prebent fan plates in situ and compare them to the volumes of CT-based virtually reconstructed orbital models.

STUDY DESIGN

This retrospective in-vitro study used CT and MRI data from adult patients with orbital trauma assessed at the Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital Outpatient Maxillofacial Clinic from 2011 to 2012. Only those with orbital blowout fractures were included in the study.

PREDICTOR VARIABLE

The primary predictor variable was imaging modality, with CT- and MRI-based 3D models used for plate bending and placement.

MAIN OUTCOME VARIABLE

The primary outcome variable was the orbital volume of the enclosed 3D models.

COVARIATES

Additional data collected was age, sex, and side of fractured orbit. The effect of operator variability on plate contouring and orbital volume was quantified.

ANALYSES

The Wilcoxon signed rank test was used to assess differences between orbital volumes with a significance level P < .05.

RESULTS

Of 11 eligible participants, six patients (four male and two female; mean age 31 ± 8.6 years) were enrolled. Two sets of six CT-based virtually restored orbits were smaller than the intact contralateral CT models by an average of 1.02 cm3 (95% CI -0.07 to 2.11 cm3; P = .028) and 0.99 cm3 (95% CI 0.07 to 1.91 cm3; P = .028), respectively. The average volume difference between the MRI-based virtually restored orbit and the intact contralateral MRI model was 0.97 cm3 (95% CI -1.08 to 1.94 cm3; P = .75). Imaging modality did affect orbital volume difference for 1 set of CT and MRI models (0.63 cm3; 95% CI -0.11 to 1.29 cm3; P = .046) but not the other (0.69 cm3; 95% CI -0.11 to 1.23 cm3; P = .075). Single operator variability in plate bending did not result in significant (P = .75) volume differences.

CONCLUSIONS

MRI can be used to reconstruct orbital volume with a clinically acceptable level of accuracy.

Analysis of Pediatric Facial Fracture Repair Rates and Complications Using California's Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development Database

BACKGROUND

There exists a paucity of data on which pediatric facial fractures should be surgically repaired and when. In this study, the authors used a California state-wide database to determine the prevalence of facial fractures in the pediatric population and examine, which fractures are repaired. in addition to the timing of the repair, complications and resource utilization of the healthcare system were analyzed.

METHODS

Pediatric patients under the age of 18 were identified using the California Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development patient discharge database for admissions occurring between January 2015 and December 2018. International Classification of Diseases, Version 10 diagnosis codes were used to classify facial fractures. The associated diagnoses, complications, and number of subsequent repairs patients underwent were analyzed to determine the typical course of pediatric facial fractures.

RESULTS

Of the 3058 patients diagnosed with facial fracture, 32% underwent surgical repair (N = 982). The 4 most repaired fractures were mandible (40%), nasal (16.2%), and orbital (15.1%). Surgical intervention steadily increased with age, with a peak in the 12 to 15-year-old cohort.

CONCLUSIONS

Our analysis found that most fractures were managed nonoperatively, but those that did receive an operation did so during their index admission. In addition, the most repaired fractures were mandibular, nasal, and orbital fractures. The present study represents 1 of the largest pediatric samples to have assessed facial fractures, repair rates, and their sequelae.

Head Computed Tomography Versus Maxillofacial Computed Tomography: An Evaluation of the Efficacy of Facial Imaging in the Detection of Facial Fractures

BACKGROUND

In an initial trauma evaluation, computed tomography of the head (CTH) is performed to assess for life-threatening intracranial injury. Given the high incidence of concomitant facial injuries, many facial fractures are diagnosed incidentally during this evaluation. Although maxillofacial CT (CTMF) is widely accepted as the most sensitive method for evaluating facial fractures, it is often excluded from the initial survey. Failure to obtain dedicated imaging can lead to increased costs related to a missed or delayed facial fracture diagnosis. Our study investigates the location and type of missed facial fractures on CTH by reviewing imaging data from patients who presented at a level 1 trauma center and underwent both CTH and CTMF.

METHODS

A retrospective review of all facial fractures diagnosed at a single institution from 2002 through 2016 was conducted. Inclusion criteria included adults aged 18 years or older who received CTH and then subsequent CTMF. Patients who had either CTH or CTMF only or combined CTH/CTMF were excluded. The facial fractures were further subdivided by location.

RESULTS

There were 501 patients with 1743 total facial fractures. CTH successfully identified 788 (45.21%) fractures, versus 1743 (100%) for CTMF. The most common fractures, in both cohorts, were nasal bone (15.7%) and orbital floor (12.8%) fractures. Using CTMF to identify missed fractures on CTH, significant differences were noted in the following locations: anterior table frontal sinus, medial/lateral pterygoid, maxillary sinus, lateral orbital wall, zygomatic arch, palate, and all types of mandible fractures excluding the mandibular condyle.

CONCLUSIONS

CTH for initial trauma evaluation often misses facial fractures. CTH alone was only sufficient in detecting posterior frontal sinus, orbital (excluding lateral wall), and mandibular condyle fractures. In patients with suspected facial injury, dedicated imaging should be performed to detect the location and extent of injury because CTH inadequately identifies most facial fractures.

Diagnostic accuracy of physical examination findings for midfacial fractures: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Objectives

To conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the diagnostic accuracy of physical examination findings and related clinical decision aids for midfacial fractures in comparison to computed tomography and cone beam computed tomography.

Material and methods

A systematic review was performed by searching the MEDLINE, Cochrane, EMBASE, and CINAHL databases. Risk of bias was assessed using the Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies-2 tool. Pooled sensitivity, specificity, and diagnostic odds ratios with the corresponding 95% confidence intervals were calculated for each physical examination finding and reported clinical decision aids.

Results

After screening 2367 records, 12 studies were included. High risk of patient selection bias was detected in three studies (25%). Additionally, high concerns regarding applicability were found for the patient selection in five studies (41.7%), and for the reference standard in eleven studies (91.7%). Of the total 42 individual physical examination findings, only 31 were suitable for a meta-analysis. High specificity and low sensitivity were found for most findings. The pooled diagnostic odds ratio ranged from 1.07 to 11.38. Clinical decision aids were reported by 8 studies, but none were constructed specifically for midfacial fractures.

Conclusion

Based on the current available evidence, the absence of physical examination findings can successfully identify patients who do not have a midfacial fracture, but the presence of individual findings does not necessarily mean that the patient has a midfacial fracture. Although various clinical decision aids were presented, none focused on exclusively midfacial fractures.

Clinical relevance

The diagnostic accuracy of physical examination findings can be used to diagnose a midfacial fracture so as to reduce unnecessary imaging, health care costs, and exposure to ionizing radiation.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s00784-022-04423-y.

A clinical decision aid to discern patients without and with midfacial and mandibular fractures that require treatment (the REDUCTION-II study): a prospective multicentre cohort study

Purpose

To assess the diagnostic accuracy of physical examination findings and to construct clinical decision aids to discern emergency department patients without and with midfacial and mandibular fractures that require treatment.

Methods

A prospective multicentre cohort study was conducted in four hospitals in the Netherlands. Consecutive maxillofacial trauma patients were included whereupon each patient underwent a standardized physical examination consisting of 15 and 14 findings for midfacial and mandibular trauma, respectively. The primary outcome was the decision whether to treat during the emergency department stay or within 24 h of admission. The diagnostic accuracy was calculated for the individual physical examination findings and ensuing clinical decision aids with the focus being on detecting midfacial and mandibular fractures that require active treatment.

Results

A total of 766 midfacial trauma patients were identified of whom 339 (44.3%) had midfacial fractures. Of those, 74 (21.8%) required active treatment. A total of 280 mandibular trauma patients were identified of whom 66 (23.6%) had mandibular fractures. Of those, 37 (56.0%) required active treatment. The decision aid for midfacial trauma consisting of facial depression, epistaxis, ocular movement limitation, palpable step-off, objective malocclusion and tooth mobility or avulsion had a sensitivity of 97.3 (90.7–99.3), a specificity of 38.6 (35.0–42.3), and a negative predictive value of 99.3 (97.3–99.8). The decision aid for mandibular trauma consisting of mouth opening limitation, jaw movement pain, objective malocclusion and tooth mobility or avulsion resulted in a sensitivity of 100.0 (90.6–100.0), a specificity of 39.1 (33.2–45.4), and a negative predictive value of 100.0 (96.1–100.0).

Conclusion

The clinical decision aids successfully identified midfacial and mandibular trauma patients requiring active fracture treatment and so may be useful in preventing unnecessary radiological procedures in the future.

Trial Registration

The study was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov with the identifier NCT03314480.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s00068-022-01892-4.

Prognosis and Diagnostic Biomarkers of Mild Traumatic Brain Injury: Current Status and Future Prospects

Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) is the most prevalent type of TBI (80-90%). It is characterized by a loss consciousness for less than 30 minutes, post-traumatic amnesia for less than 24 hours, and Glasgow Coma Score of 13-15. Accurately diagnosing mTBIs can be a challenge because the majority of these injuries do not show noticeable or visible changes on neuroimaging studies. Appropriate determination of mTBI is tremendously important because it might lead in some cases to post-concussion syndrome, cognitive impairments including attention, memory, and speed of information processing problems. The scientists have studied different methods to improve mTBI diagnosis and enhanced approaches that would accurately determine the severity of the trauma. The present review focuses on discussing the role of biomarkers as potential key factors in diagnosing mTBI. The present review focuses on 1) protein based peripheral and CNS markers, 2) genetic biomarkers, 3) imaging biomarkers, 4) neurophysiological biomarkers, and 5) the studies and clinical trials in mTBI. Each section provides information and characteristics on different biomarkers for mTBI.

A Prediction Model for Selective Use of Facial Computed Tomography in Blunt Head Trauma Patients

BACKGROUND

Head trauma patients may have concomitant facial fractures, which are usually underdetected by head computed tomography alone. This study aimed to identify the clinical indicators of facial fractures and to develop a risk-prediction model to guide the discriminative use of additional facial computed tomography in head trauma.

METHODS

The authors retrospectively reviewed head trauma patients undergoing simultaneous head and facial computed tomography at a Level II trauma center from 2015 to 2018. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate independent risk factors for concomitant facial fractures in head trauma patients using data collected from 2015 to 2017, and a risk-prediction model was created accordingly. Model performance was validated with data from 2018.

RESULTS

In total, 5045 blunt head trauma patients (development cohort, 3534 patients, 2015 to 2017; validation cohort, 1511 patients, 2018) were enrolled. Concomitant facial fractures occurred in 723 head trauma patients (14.3 percent). Ten clinical and head computed tomographic variables were identified as predictors, including age, male sex, falls from elevation, motorcycle collisions, Glasgow Coma Scale scores less than 14, epistaxis, tooth rupture, facial lesions, intracranial hemorrhage, and skull fracture. In the development cohort, the model showed good discrimination (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve = 0.891), calibration (Hosmer-Lemeshow C test, p = 0.691), and precision (Brier score = 0.066). In the validation cohort, the model demonstrated excellent discrimination (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve = 0.907), good calibration (Hosmer-Lemeshow C test, p = 0.652), and good precision (Brier score = 0.083). With this model, 77.1 percent of unnecessary facial computed tomography could be avoided.

CONCLUSION

This model could guide the discriminative use of additional facial computed tomography to detect concomitant facial fractures in blunt head trauma.

CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Risk, III.

National Disparities in Insurance Coverage of Comprehensive Craniomaxillofacial Trauma Care

Background:

Comprehensive craniomaxillofacial trauma care includes correcting functional deficits, addressing acquired deformities and appearance, and providing psychosocial support. The aim of this study was to characterize insurance coverage of surgical, medical, and psychosocial services indicated for longitudinal facial trauma care and highlight national discrepancies in policy.

Methods:

A cross-sectional analysis of insurance coverage was performed for treatment of common functional, appearance, and psychosocial facial trauma sequelae. Policies were scored for coverage (3), case-by-case coverage (2), no mention (1), and exclusion (0). The sum of points determined coverage scores for functional sequelae, acquired-appearance sequelae, and psychosocial sequelae, the sum of which generated a Comprehensive Coverage Score.

Results:

Medicaid earned lower comprehensive coverage scores and lower coverage scores for psychosocial sequelae than did private insurance (P = 0.02, P = 0.02). Medicaid CCSs were lowest in Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Missouri. Private insurance CCSs and psychosocial sequelae were highest in Colorado and Delaware, and lowest in Wisconsin. Coverage scores for functional sequelae and for acquired-appearance sequelae were similar for Medicaid and private policies. Medicaid coverage scores were higher in states that opted into Medicaid expansion (P = 0.04), states with Democrat governors (P = 0.02), states with mandated paid leave (P = 0.01), and states with >40% total population living >400% above federal poverty (P = 0.03). Medicaid comprehensive coverage scores and coverage scores for psychosocial sequelae were lower in southeastern states. Private insurance coverage scores for functional sequelae and for ASCSs were lower in the Midwest.

Conclusions:

Insurance disparities in comprehensive craniomaxillofacial care coverage exist, particularly for psychosocial services. The disparities correlate with current state-level geopolitics. There is a uniform need to address national and state-specific differences in coverage from both Medicaid and private insurance policies.

High-Resolution Maxillofacial Computed Tomography Is Superior to Head Computed Tomography in Determining the Operative Management of Facial Fractures

BACKGROUND

Computed tomography of the head (CTH) and maxillofacial bones (CTMF) can be performed concurrently, but CTMF is frequently ordered separately, after facial fractures identified on CTH scans. This study aims to evaluate whether obtaining additional CTMF after CTH changes operative management of patients with facial trauma.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A retrospective chart review was performed of all patients with facial trauma who presented to our level 1 trauma center between January 2009 and May 2019. CTH and CTMF were reviewed for each patient. Fracture numbers and patterns were compared to determine if CTMF provided additional information that necessitated change in management, based on predetermined criteria.

RESULTS

A total of 1215 patients were assessed for facial trauma. Of them, 899 patients underwent both CTH and CTMF scans. CTH identified 22.7% less fractures than CTMF (P < 0.001); specifically, more orbital, nasal, naso-orbito-ethmoid, zygoma, midface, and mandible fractures (P < 0.001). Of all patients 9.2% (n = 83) of patients with nonoperative fractures on CTH were reclassified as operative on CTMF; 0.6% (n = 5) with operative patterns on CTH were reclassified as nonoperative on CTMF, and 18.1% (n = 163) experienced a changed in their operative plan though operative fractures were seen on both imaging modalities. Additional findings seen on CTMF delegated change in the operative plan in 27.9% (n = 251) of cases.

CONCLUSIONS

CTMF scans are necessary to determine operative intervention. As CTH and CTMF are constructed from the data, physicians should consider ordering both scans simultaneously for all patients with facial trauma to limit radiation exposure, control costs, and avoid delays in care.

Validation of the "Wisconsin Criteria" for Obtaining Dedicated Facial Imaging and Its Financial Impact at a Level 1 Trauma Center

Introduction

According to national trauma databases, 25% of all people injured have some type of facial injury. The gold standard for diagnosing bony trauma of the facial skeleton has been computed tomography (CT) scan. In 2011, the "Wisconsin criteria" were established and subsequently validated as a method to predict which patients truly have a facial fracture and warrant further imaging. The purpose of this study is to externally validate these criteria and determine the economic impact they might have on avoiding unnecessary CT scans.

Methods

This was a retrospective chart review. We collected 1000 patients who had undergone facial CT related to trauma and retrospectively applied the "Wisconsin criteria" based on physical exam documentation.

Results

Of the 1000 facial CT scans obtained, we identified 408 fractures, 12% of which required operative intervention. The "Wisconsin criteria" applied to our patient population had a sensitivity of 90% and a negative predictive value of 93%. Using these criteria resulted in a missed fracture rate of 2.8%. Finally, had these criteria been used to determine when a facial CT scan was indicated, our institution could be saving over US$300 000 annually.

Conclusion

The "Wisconsin criteria" are a reliable method to screen for facial fracture in trauma patients. Using a validated instrument tool to guide decision-making, we can avoid obtaining low-value imaging studies. This can have a large economic impact while maintaining safety and reliability in accurate diagnosis.

Comparative and retrospective evaluation of the predictive performance of optic nerve sheath thickness and optic nerve sheath diameter for traumatic brain injury using facial computed tomography

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the predictive performance of optic nerve sheath thickness (ONST) on the outcomes of traumatic brain injury (TBI) and to compare the inter-observer agreement To evaluate the predictive performance of optic nerve sheath thickness (ONST) for traumatic brain injury (TBI) and to compare the predictive performance and inter-observer agreement between ONST and optic nerve sheath diameter (ONSD) on facial computed tomography (CT).

METHODS

We retrospectively enrolled patients with a history of facial trauma and who underwent both facial CT and brain CT. Two reviewers independently measured ONST and ONSD of each patient using facial CT images. Final brain CT with clinical outcome was used as the reference standard for TBI. Multivariate logistic regression analyses, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, and intraclass correlation coefficients were used for statistical analyses.

RESULTS

Both ONST (P=0.002) and ONSD (P=0.001) on facial CT were significantly independent factors to distinguish between TBI and healthy brains; an increase in ONST and ONSD values corresponded with an increase in the risk of TBI by 8.9- and 7.6-fold, respectively. The predictive performances of the ONST (sensitivity, 96.2%; specificity, 94.3%; area under the ROC curve, 0.968) and ONSD (sensitivity, 92.6%; specificity, 90.2%; area under the ROC curve, 0.955) were excellent and exhibited similar sensitivity, specificity, and area under the curve (P=0.18-0.99). Interobserver and intraobserver intraclass correlation coefficients for ONST were significantly higher than those for ONSD (all P<0.001).

CONCLUSION

ONST on facial CT is a feasible predictor of TBI and demonstrates similar performance and superior observer agreement than ONSD. We recommend using ONST measurements to assess the need for additional brain CT scans in TBI-suspected cases.

Treatment of Facial Fractures at a Level 1 Trauma Center: Do Medicaid and Non-Medicaid Enrollees Receive the Same Care?

BACKGROUND

Timing of surgical treatment of facial fractures may vary with the patient age, injury type, and presence of polytrauma. Previous studies using national data sets have suggested that trauma patients with government insurance experience fewer operations, longer length of hospital stay (LOS), and worse outcomes compared with privately insured patients. The objective of this study is to compare treatment of facial fractures in patients with and without Medicaid insurance (excluding Medicare).

METHODS

All adults with mandibular, orbital, and midface fractures at a Level 1 Trauma Center between 2009 and 2018 were included. Statistical analyses were performed to assess the differences in the frequency of surgery, time to surgery (TTS), LOS, and mortality based on insurance type.

RESULTS

The sample included 1541 patients with facial fractures (mandible, midface, orbital), of whom 78.8% were male, and 13.1% (208) were enrolled in Medicaid. Mechanism of injury was predominantly assault for Medicaid enrollees and falls or motor vehicle accidents for non-Medicaid enrollees (P < 0.001). Patients with mandible and midface fractures underwent similar rates of surgical repair. Medicaid enrollees with orbital fractures underwent less frequent surgery for facial fractures (24.8% versus 34.7%, P = 0.0443) and had higher rates of alcohol and drug intoxication compared with non-Medicaid enrollees (42.8% versus 31.6%, P = 0.008). TTS, LOS, and mortality were similar in both groups with facial fractures.

CONCLUSIONS

Overall, the treatment of facial fractures was similar regardless of the insurance type, but Medicaid enrollees with orbital fractures experienced less frequent surgery for facial fractures. Further studies are needed to identify specific socioeconomic and geographic factors contributing to these disparities in care.

Evaluation of Concomitant Orbital Floor Fractures in Patients with Head Trauma Using Conventional Head CT Scan: A Retrospective Study at a Level II Trauma Center

BACKGROUND

Patients with head trauma may have concomitant orbital floor fractures (OFFs). The objective of our study was to determine the specific CT findings and investigate the diagnostic performance of head CT in detecting OFFs.

METHODS

We analyzed 3534 head trauma patients undergoing simultaneous head and facial CT over a 3-year period. The clinical data and specific head CT findings between patients with and without OFFs were compared.

RESULTS

In our cohort, 198 patients (5.6%) had OFFs visible on CT. On head CT, orbital floor discontinuity, gas bubbles entrapped between floor fragments, inferior extraconal emphysema, and maxillary hemosinus (MHS) were more commonly observed among patients with OFFs (p < 0.001). The absence of MHS had a high negative predictive value (99.7%) for excluding OFFs. Among the different types of MHS, the pattern showing high-attenuation opacity mixed with mottled gas had the highest positive predictive value (69.5%) for OFFs and was the only independent predictor of OFFs after adjusting for the other CT variables in all patients with MHS.

CONCLUSION

Head CT may serve as a first-line screening tool to detect OFFs in head trauma patients. Hence, unnecessary facial CT and additional radiation exposure may be reduced.

Predicting orbital fractures in head injury: a preliminary study of clinical findings

Purpose

Patients presenting to emergency departments (EDs) following head injury often undergo computed tomography (CT) of the head to exclude traumatic brain injury. In many cases, this does not show the maxillofacial skeleton. A proportion of these patients also sustain facial fractures, and when fractures involve the orbits, CT imaging is useful in diagnosis and management; obtaining a second scan may cause delay, incur greater cost, and increase radiation dose. The aim of this preliminary study was to examine the value of signs and symptoms of orbital fractures in predicting a fracture on CT.

Methods

The clinical records of 47 patients who underwent CT of the face following facial trauma were retrospectively examined for the presence of signs and symptoms of orbital fractures. Sensitivity, specificity, negative predictive value (NPV) and positive predictive values (PPV) were then calculated for each sign and symptom for the presence of an orbital fracture on CT. We also described a clinical decision instrument and examined the predictive values of this.

Results

Change in the position of the globe, reduced visual acuity, subconjunctival haemorrhage and change in sensation in the maxillary division of the trigeminal nerve were the most specific signs and symptoms for orbital fracture. Our clinical decision instrument had 80.0% sensitivity, 75.0% specificity, 90.3% PPV and 56.3% NPV for predicting the presence of an orbital fracture on CT in this population.

Conclusions

Our results demonstrate that signs and symptoms of orbital fractures may be useful for predicting these injuries, and a decision instrument could be used in the ED to identify patients likely to benefit from extending the radiation field to include the orbits where CT of the head is already planned. This work is however exploratory; and further prospective validation is required before a robust instrument can be recommended for clinical use.

Dose reduction in CT imaging for facial bone trauma in adults: A narrative literature review

Trauma to the facial area accounts for a significant number of admissions to the emergency department. Diagnostic imaging is almost always required, and is critical in determining patient management. Multi‐detector computed tomography (MDCT) appears consistently in the literature as the gold‐standard imaging modality for facial bones, but results in a high radiation dose to the patient. This makes the application and advancement of dose reduction and dose optimisation methods vital. This narrative review presents a critical analysis of the literature concerning diagnostic imaging of facial bone trauma, with an emphasis on dose reduction methods for MDCT. Databases including Pubmed, Medline, Web of Science and Scopus were used to investigate this topic, with the key words: facial bone trauma, computed tomography (CT) imaging and dose reduction. Exclusion criteria included studies on nasal bone fracturing, dental imaging, elective surgeries and paediatric imaging. The literature shows overwhelming support for MDCT, given its accuracy, efficiency and ease of operation. Noise reducing reconstruction algorithms show promise as a successful method of dose reduction in facial bone imaging. Investigations of more innovative techniques also appear within the literature, including diagnostic cone‐beam CT (CBCT), intraoperative CBCT and dual‐source CT (DSCT), but further research is required to confirm their clinical value.

Optic nerve sheath diameter on facial CT: a tool to predict traumatic brain injury

PURPOSE

To evaluate and compare the optic nerve sheath diameters (ONSDs) of facial trauma patients as observed on facial CT and brain CT, and to evaluate the predictive performance of ONSD as seen on facial CT for traumatic brain injury (TBI).

METHODS

We retrospectively enrolled 262 patients with facial trauma who underwent both facial CT and brain CT. Two reviewers independently measured ONSD at 3 mm (ONSD3) and 10 mm behind the globe (ONSD10) for each patient on both CT scans. Final CT reports with clinical progress notes were used as the reference standard. Statistically, multivariate logistic regression analysis, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, and intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) were used.

RESULTS

Eighty-seven (33.2%) patients were diagnosed with facial fracture, and 21 (8.0%) were diagnosed with intracranial haemorrhage. Neither reviewer observed significant differences (p = 0.15-0.61) between facial CT and brain CT when comparing ONSD3 and ONSD10. ONSD3 on facial CT was a significantly independent factor for distinguishing TBI from negative brain CT scan (p = 0.001); as ONSD3 increased, the risk of TBI increased 8.1-fold. ONSD3 ≥ 4.13 mm exhibited the highest area under the ROC curve (AUC) for predicting TBI (AUC, 0.968; sensitivity, 90.5%; specificity, 98.8%). There were good or excellent interobserver agreements for all measurements (ICC, 0.750-0.875).

CONCLUSION

ONSD3 as determined by facial CT is a feasible predictive marker of TBI in facial trauma patients. It can assist emergency physicians in deciding whether immediate further brain imaging is warranted.

Diagnostic performance of brain computed tomography to detect facial bone fractures

Objective

Most patients with head trauma require brain computed tomography (CT) in the emergency department. However, the requirement for facial CT remains controversial. The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic value of brain CT alone for detection of facial fractures and its ability to determine the requirement for additional facial CT.

Methods

This retrospective multicenter study was conducted in two tertiary hospitals in Seoul, Republic of Korea, between January 2014 and December 2015. Data were collected from the medical records of adult patients (aged over 18 years) who had undergone both brain and facial CT on the same day as their presentation to the emergency department with blunt trauma to the head and face. The same radiologist analyzed all brain and facial CT images.

Results

Eight hundred and sixty patients (668 men, 192 women; mean age 48.60±18.2 years) were identified to have had facial fractures. There was a statistically significant predominance of men but not of any particular age group. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and accuracy of brain CT were 83.72%, 98.87%, 97.17%, 92.92%, and 94.08%, respectively.

Conclusion

These findings suggest that brain CT has high diagnostic value for detection of upper facial bone fractures with high accuracy and can aid emergency physicians when determining the requirement for additional facial CT.