Academic emergency medicine : official journal of the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine
-
Review Meta Analysis
Diagnostic Accuracy of Ultrasonography in Retained Soft Tissue Foreign Bodies: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.
Open wounds with the potential for retained foreign bodies are frequently seen in the emergency department (ED). Common foreign bodies, such as wood or glass, are often missed on physical examination and conventional radiography. The increased use of ultrasonography (US) in the ED presents an opportunity to better identify retained soft tissue foreign bodies, and understanding of its test characteristics is desirable. The authors set out to determine the test characteristics of US for detection of soft tissue foreign bodies by performing a systematic review and meta-analysis of the existing literature. ⋯ Ultrasonography is highly specific and moderately sensitive in the identification of retained soft tissue foreign bodies; however, studies to date have a high degree of heterogeneity and a high risk of bias.