Interrater reliability of sonographic examinations of orbital fractures

The purpose of this study is to determine whether there are statistically significant variations among different observers when examining fractures of the orbital walls. From December 2003 to April 2004, 28 patients with clinically suspected orbital fractures were examined by ultrasound prospectivel...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:European journal of radiology 2005-06, Vol.54 (3), p.344-351
Main Authors: Siegfried, Jank, Martina, Deibl, Heinrich, Strobl, Andreas, Oberrauch, Alessandro, Nicasi, Martin, Missmann, Gerd, Bodner
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Adult
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Biological and medical sciences
Blow-out-fractures
Chi-Square Distribution
Child
Female
Humans
Injuries of the limb. Injuries of the spine
Male
Medical sciences
Middle Aged
Observer Variation
Orbit
Orbital Fractures - diagnostic imaging
Predictive Value of Tests
Prospective Studies
Reproducibility of Results
Sensitivity and Specificity
Tomography, X-Ray Computed
Traumas. Diseases due to physical agents
Ultrasonography
Ultrasound
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Summary:The purpose of this study is to determine whether there are statistically significant variations among different observers when examining fractures of the orbital walls. From December 2003 to April 2004, 28 patients with clinically suspected orbital fractures were examined by ultrasound prospectively. The US images of the infra-orbital margins, the orbital floors, the medial and lateral orbital walls of each patient were reexamined by two independent investigators. Computed tomography revealed fractures of the orbital floor in 28 out of 31 patients (90.3%). The infra-orbital margins showed fractures of 14 of 31 patients (45.2%). The ultrasound examinations of the orbits by the three examiners presented satisfactory correlation regarding sensitivity and specificity. There were no significant differences between investigators. There was good agreement among the ultrasound examiners regarding the infra-orbital margins. This was not the case for the orbital floors. If there are clear cut clinical findings ultrasound examination could represent an alternative to computed tomography. If the clinical findings were indeterminate, computed tomography was essential as implicated by this study. Accordingly, further evaluation of ultrasound examinations of fractures of the orbital margins and floors are necessary.
ISSN:0720-048X
1872-7727
DOI:10.1016/j.ejrad.2004.07.009