Computed tomography in ethmoid cell trauma.

Clinical and radiological evaluation of 19 patients with injury to the ethmoid bones following cranio-facial trauma is presented. The correlation of ethmoid trauma and damage to neighbouring structures is discussed. Two cases with damage to the orbits are demonstrated. These findings indicate that orbital involvement is relatively infrequent in association with ethmoid cell trauma. However, when it does occur, severe complications, such as infection and loss of vision may result. Early evaluation by computed tomography is the key to accurate diagnosis and prevention of these complications. Computed tomography is of inestimable value in the detection of minute and subtle bone fragmentation and sequelae.