Comparison of the fracture detection capabilities between 1 mm and 3 mm bone reconstructions in CT brain imaging

Abstract

     This retrospective analytical study aimed to compare the fracture detection capabilities between 1 mm and 3 mm bone reconstructions in CT brain imaging. Data were collected from patients with a history of head trauma who underwent CT brain scans from the PACs (Picture Archiving and Communication system), Envisions systems between October 1, 2023, and August 31, 2024, involving a sample of 710 participants. CT images from patients diagnosed with head trauma were retrospectively reviewed by a radiologist with at least three years of experience. The radiologist initially reviewed the 3 mm bone reconstruction images, waited one week, and then reviewed the 1 mm bone reconstruction images, with patient information anonymized. The number of fracture lines identified was compared, and relationships were analyzed using statistical principles. For continuous variables, the mean (standard deviation) and percentage were reported, and data were analyzed using Stata version 10 to address the research questions.
     Results: Among the 695 patients with head injuries, 92 (13.2%) had fractures, with a mean age of 40.9 ± 21.6 years. Most patients were male (62.9%). When comparing fracture detection capabilities between 3 mm and 1 mm bone reconstructions, both reconstructions showed consistent diagnostic outcomes. The ROC curve analysis and comparison of the area under the curve (AUC) yielded a value of 0.98 (95% CI: 0.96-0.99, p=0.042), indicating that the 3 mm bone reconstruction performed well in detecting fractures but differed significantly from the 1 mm reconstruction in terms of statistical significance.