Accuracy of high-resolution computed tomography in revealing fallopian canal fracture of patients with traumatic facial paralysis

Objectives To investigate accuracy of high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) of temporal bone in revealing fallopian canal fracture among the patients with traumatic facial paralysis. Methods HRCT of temporal bone with cross-sectional scanning and multi-planar reformation (MPR) was performed on 31 patients with traumatic facial paralysis, and fracture sites of fallopian canal revealed by HRCT were retrospectively analyzed and compared with surgical findings. Results HRCT of temporal bone showed fracture of fallopian canal at geniculate ganglion in 25 cases, at tympanic segment in 15 cases, at labyrinthine segment in 5 cases, at pyramid segment in 2 cases, and at mastoid segment in one case, while surgical findings revealed that fracture involved geniculate ganglion in 27 cases, labyrinthine segment in 5, tympanic segment in 19, pyramid segment in 12, and mastoid segment in 9; the sensitivity of HRCT of temporal bone to detect fracture at such sites was 88.9%, 100%, 52.6%, 16.7% and 11.1%, respectively, and the specificity was 96.0%, 100%, 66.7%, 100% and 100%, respectively. Conclusion HRCT of temporal bone was able to accurately reveal fracture of fallopian canal at geniculate ganglion and labyrinthine segment in the vast majority cases, but severely underestimated fracture at pyramid segment and mastoid segment of fallopian canal.