The use of acoustic emission in facial fracture detection.

This study describes a method for utilizing Acoustic Emission (AE) in facial fracture detection and demonstrates the association between fracture and acoustic emission magnitude. AE sensors were mounted to the frontal bone and mandible of cadaver skulls (n=14) exposed to impacts to the frontal bone, nasal bone, maxilla and mandible. The presence of AE during fracture and non-fracture tests necessitated the development of a threshold to distinguish AE associated with fracture. Based on the obtained data, a threshold of 9 volts was established. The association between above-threshold AE and fracture was demonstrated by performing low-severity impacts on pre-fractured frontal bones. These tests demonstrated that above threshold AE is produced as a result of high-severity impacts, resulting in fracture as well as low-severity impacts on prefracture bone. The results of these tests indicate that above threshold AE was associated with the fracture process and not a function of the force applied to the facial bones.