Measurement of Optic Nerve Sheath Diameter by Bedside Ultrasound in Patients With Traumatic Brain Injury Presenting to Emergency Department: A Review

Cureus. 2024 Jun 5;16(6):e61768. doi: 10.7759/cureus.61768. eCollection 2024 Jun.

Abstract

The aim of this review article is to outline the effectiveness of using bedside ultrasound to measure the optic nerve sheath diameter (ONSD) in order to identify variations in intracranial pressure (ICP) and subsequently avoid the complication of secondary brain injury in patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI), who are admitted to an emergency department (ED). Reputable publications and numerous studies demonstrate the problem's exponential rampancy and pervasiveness. In a TBI patient, the emergence of secondary brain damage has been recognized as a serious emergency. It is believed that secondary brain damage is caused by an abnormally high ICP. High levels of ICP can be measured using both invasive and non-invasive approaches. ONSD measurement via bedside ultrasound has been identified as a quick, useful technique to be used in the ED to avoid potential morbidity and mortality owing to secondary brain injury.

Keywords: bedside assessment; optic nerve sheath diameter; raised intracranial pressure; traumatic brain injury; ultrasound device.

Publication types

  • Review