Evaluation of the Accuracy of Radiography and Ultrasonography in Nasal Bone Disorders in Dogs

Nasal fracture is one of the most important disorders as a result of trauma in small animals. Clinical examination is the main method of diagnosis of nasal bone fracture. The aim of this study was to evaluate diagnostic accuracy of nasal diagnostic imaging (ultrasound and radiography) in dogs suspected of traumatic nasal bone disorders and its relationship with clinical and surgical findings.

This study was performed on 20 large breed dogs including 14 males and six females with nasal disorders and suspected cases of nasal bone fracture. The results of clinical examination, ultrasound and radiography were recorded and compared with the findings during surgery. Study data were statistically analyzed with chi-squared test and using SPSS 25 and Excel 2016 softwares (p=0.05).

Evaluation of these dogs and their ultrasound showed that the accuracy and sensitivity of ultrasound in diagnosing fractures of bridge and lateral wall of the nose are higher than plain radiography. Ultrasound was more accurate and sensitive than clinical examination to detect fractures of the bridge and the lateral wall of the nose. In the case of nasal septal fractures, the accuracy and specificity of ultrasound were higher than plain radiography, and the sensitivity of both methods was the same. In the diagnosis of the bridge and the lateral wall fractures, the diagnostic accuracy in both the surgical and ultrasound methods and in the diagnosis of nasal septal fracture, the diagnostic accuracy in both the surgical and clinical examination methods, were higher than the other methods.

According to this study, ultrasound with higher sensitivity and specificity is a useful method in the diagnosis of nasal fractures; therefore, compared to radiography, ultrasound could be useful as a non-invasive method in the diagnosis of nasal bone fractures in dogs.