Evaluate specificity and sensitivity of cone beam computed tomography for midfacial fractures: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract

Objectives: The present study aims to evaluate the specificity and sensitivity of cone beam computed tomography compared to physical examination for medial fractures. Methods: In this study, international databases such as PubMed, Scopus, Science Direct, ISI, Web of Knowledge, and Embase were reviewed to select articles related to the purpose of this study from January 2012 to July 2022. Effect size with 95 confidence interval (CI) with fixed effect modal and inverse-variance done. STATA.V16 software was used for data analysis. Results: In the initial review, the abstracts of 283 studies were reviewed, two authors reviewed the full text of 32 studies, and finally, eight studies were selected. The sensitivity of the Intra-oral assessment was 17 (ES: 95 CI, -0.34 to 0.74); the subgroup meta-analysis showed Sensitivity to Laceration, and the intraoral assessment was 19 (ES: 95 CI, -1.77 to 2.15); Sensitivity of Tooth avulsion assessment was 9 (ES: 95 CI, -1.04 to 1.22). Conclusions: Diagnostic sensitivity of individual physical examination was low compared to imaging methods, Based on the findings of the present meta-analysis, which shows that individual physical examination cannot be accurately relied upon to identify intra-oral assessment in mid-face fractures.