Orbital Trauma

[Trauma of the midface : Symptoms, diagnostics and treatment]

Midface fractures present a clinical challenge in otorhinolaryngology due to their often complex injury pattern and nonspecific symptoms. Precise diagnostics, including differentiated imaging procedures, are required. Interdisciplinary consultation between otorhinolaryngology, maxillofacial surgery, neurosurgery, and ophthalmology is often necessary. When selecting radiographic modalities, radiation hygiene should be taken into account. Sonography provides a radiation-free imaging alternative for fractures of the nasal framework and anterior wall of the frontal sinus. The goal of treatment is to achieve stable and symmetrical reconstruction. Depending on the injury pattern, different osteosynthesis materials, individual access routes, and various surgical procedures can be used. In clinical practice, the management of midface fractures requires a multidisciplinary, flexible, and pragmatic approach based on the fracture pattern and clinical experience.

Are Age and Trauma Mechanism Associated with Volume Change in the Fractures of the Bony Orbit?

Blowout fractures are common midfacial fractures in which one or several of the bones of orbital vault break. This is usually caused by a direct trauma to the eye with a blunt object such as a fist. Fracturing of the fragile orbital bones can lead to changes in the orbital volume, which may cause enophthalmos, diplopia, and impaired facial aesthetics. Objectives: The aim of this study is to investigate whether there is an association between volume change of the bony orbit and age, gender, or trauma mechanism. Methods: A retrospective study of patients with unilateral blowout or blow-in fractures treated and examined in Päijät-Häme Central Hospital, Lahti, Finland was conducted. Altogether, 127 patients met the inclusion criteria. Their computed tomographs (CT) were measured with an orbit-specific automated segmentation-based volume measurement tool, and the relative orbital volume change between fractured and intact orbital vault was calculated. Thereafter, a statistical analysis was performed. A p-value less than 0.05 was considered significant. Results: We found that relative increase in orbital volume and age have a statistically significant association (p = 0.022). Trauma mechanism and gender showed no significant role. Conclusions: Patient's age is associated with increased volume change in fractures of the bony orbit.

Titanium Implants Coated with Hydroxyapatite Used in Orbital Wall Reconstruction-A Literature Review

With the increasing incidences of orbital wall injuries, effective reconstruction materials and techniques are imperative for optimal clinical outcomes. In this literature review, we delve into the efficacy and potential advantages of using titanium implants coated with nanostructured hydroxyapatite for the reconstruction of the orbital wall. Titanium implants, recognized for their durability and mechanical strength, when combined with the osteoconductive properties of hydroxyapatite, present a potentially synergistic solution. The purpose of this review was to critically analyze the recent literature and present the state of the art in orbital wall reconstruction using titanium implants coated with nanostructured hydroxyapatite. This review offers clinicians detailed insight into the benefits and potential drawbacks of using titanium implants coated with nanostructured hydroxyapatite for orbital wall reconstruction. The highlighted results advocate for its benefits in terms of osseointegration and provide a novel strategy for orbital reconstruction, though further studies are essential to establish long-term efficacy and address concerns.

[Orbital trauma]

Orbital trauma can occur independently or in conjunction with other craniofacial trauma and can cause damage to bony and neurovascular structures as well as soft tissues. Appropriate interdisciplinary treatment of patients is essential to prevent long-term damage such as blindness or muscle dysfunction. Even complex fractures and soft tissue damage can be visualized using modern thin-layer computed tomography (CT), which is necessary for proper treatment.

A Comprehensive Look at Maxillofacial Traumas: On the Basis of Orbital Involvement

INTRODUCTION

Orbital wall fractures that may develop in maxillofacial traumas (MFTs) may cause ophthalmic complications (OCs). The aim of this study is to determine the frequency of orbital fractures (OFs) accompanying MFTs and findings suspicious for orbital traumatic involvement.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Computed tomography (CT) images of 887 patients who presented to the emergency department within a 1-year period with a history of MFT were retrospectively scanned. During the examination, patients with orbital wall fractures, craniofacial bone fractures, and posttraumatic soft tissue changes were recorded.

RESULTS

OF was observed in 47 (5.3%) of the patients admitted for MFT. In cases with OFs, accompanying nasal (25.5%), ethmoid (2.1%), frontal (19.1%), maxillary (38%), and zygomatic bone fracture (10.6%), sphenoid (4.3%), and soft tissue damage (55.3%) were observed. It was observed that the pathologies mentioned at these levels were significantly higher than in patients without orbital involvement (p < 0.05). In our study, mild (48.9%) and moderate-severe (2.12-4.25%) OCs accompanying OFs were observed after MFT.

CONCLUSIONS

The frequency of MFT varies depending on various factors, and such studies are needed to take preventive measures. Knowing the risk and frequency of orbital damage accompanying MFTs may help reduce complications by allowing rapid and accurate diagnosis.

International Olympic Committee (IOC) consensus paper on sports-related ophthalmology issues in elite sports

Vision plays an important role in an athletes' success. In sports, nearly 80% of perceptual input is visual, and eye health and sports medicine are closely intertwined fields of utmost importance to athletes. The physical nature of sports activities renders individuals more prone to various eye injuries than the general population. Ocular trauma can lead to lifelong sequelae, and impaired vision requires careful follow-up and management. Apart from injuries, athletes may also experience vision problems that can hamper their performance, including blurred vision, double vision, and light sensitivity. The interdisciplinary nature of sports medicine necessitates collaboration between sports medicine professionals and ophthalmologists. Through such collaborations, athletes can receive appropriate eye care, education on proper eye protection and guidance on adopting good eye health practices. If any inconspicuous symptoms are not detected and treated promptly, athletes may acquire systemic injuries because of defective vision, preventing them from achieving high level athletic performance in competitions. The protection of the elite athlete is the responsibility of all of us in sports medicine. To advance a more unified, evidence-informed approach to ophthalmic health assessment and management in athletes and as relevant for sports medicine physicians, the International Olympic Committee Consensus Group aims for a critical evaluation of the current state of the science and practice of ophthalmologic issues and illness in high-level sports, and present recommendations for a unified approach to this important issue.

Epidemiologic Pattern and Injury Mechanism of Intimate Partner Violence-Related Ocular Trauma in the US

Importance

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is an important cause of death and disability worldwide. The literature estimates that 45% of IPV injuries involve the eyes. Many medical fields have increased IPV-related research; however, ophthalmology IPV research remains rare.

Objective

To evaluate the epidemiologic pattern and injury mechanism of IPV related to ocular trauma.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This study was a retrospective cross-sectional analysis with deidentified data using the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, Tenth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-10-CM) codes from the National Trauma Data Bank (NTDB), which is a data set collected by the American College of Surgeons. The NTDB is the largest US hospitalized trauma case database with submissions from more than 900 US facilities. Included in this analysis were the IPV-related ocular injuries of patients hospitalized between 2017 and 2019. Study data were analyzed from April 20 to October 15, 2022.

Exposures

IPV-related ocular injuries.

Main Outcomes and Measures

Ocular injuries and adult IPV trauma survivors were identified with the ICD-10-CM codes. The following demographic data were collected: sex, age, race and ethnicity, health insurance plan, substance misuse screening results, trauma level of hospital, the emergency department disposition, the total Glasgow Coma Scale score, the abbreviated injury scale, and caregiver at discharge.

Results

A total of 2598 of the recorded ocular injuries were associated with IPV. Patients had a mean (SD) age of 45.2 (18.4) years, and 1618 were female (62.3%). Most patients in the population sample (1195 [46.0%]) were aged 18 to 39 years. The race and ethnicity distribution was as follows: 629 Black (24.2%), 296 Hispanic (11.4%), 1358 White (52.3%), 229 other (8.8%), and 86 missing (3.3%). Insurance statuses were Medicaid (847 [32.6%]), Medicare (524 [20.2%]), private insurance (524 [20.2%]), and self-pay (488 [18.8%]). Women had greater odds of testing positive during alcohol screening (odds ratio [OR], 1.42; 95% CI, 1.21-1.67; P < .001). Black patients were most likely to have Medicaid (OR, 1.64; 95% CI, 1.35-1.99; P < .001), Hispanic patients were most likely to self-pay (OR, 1.96, 95% CI, 1.48-2.58; P < .001), and White patients were most likely to use Medicare (OR, 2.94, 95% CI, 2.33-3.73; P < .001).

Conclusions and Relevance

Social determinants of health were identified as key risk factors for IPV-related ocular injuries. Study findings highlight identifiable risk factors associated with IPV and ocular trauma that can contribute to IPV awareness among ophthalmologists.

Review of 451 Patients Presenting With Orbital Wall Fractures: A Retrospective Analysis

A retrospective review of the electronic medical records of patients presenting to the University Medical Center in Lubbock, Texas with orbital wall fractures. Clinical data such as associated ocular injuries and different management approaches are analyzed and discussed to help clarify the specific indications for, and timing of, a formal ophthalmologic examination. All patients who presented to the emergency department for an orbital fracture after suffering various types of traumas between 2008 and 2017 were included. The study reviewed 451 patients with orbital wall fractures with a wide variety of presentations as well as demographics. There were 411 cases of adults presenting with an average age of 34 years and 40 pediatric presentations with an average age of 14 years. The average age of the combined study population was 30 years. Only 16.9% of patients required surgical correction for their orbital fractures and assault accounted for nearly 50% of all the orbital fractures reviewed in this study. In this large retrospective review, no notable relationship was found between orbital wall fractured and ocular injury. Alarm symptoms for more visual threatening injuries such as retinal tears, detachments, open globe injury, and extraocular muscle entrapment are all reasonable indications to consult ophthalmology emergently. Most orbital fractures are not vision threatening, do not usually require surgical correction, and typically occur in the setting of assault.

Biocompatible Materials for Orbital Wall Reconstruction-An Overview

The reconstruction of an orbit after complex craniofacial fractures can be extremely demanding. For satisfactory functional and aesthetic results, it is necessary to restore the orbital walls and the craniofacial skeleton using various types of materials. The reconstruction materials can be divided into autografts (bone or cartilage tissue) or allografts (metals, ceramics, or plastic materials, and combinations of these materials). Over time, different types of materials have been used, considering characteristics such as their stability, biocompatibility, cost, safety, and intraoperative flexibility. Although the ideal material for orbital reconstruction could not be unanimously identified, much progress has been achieved in recent years. In this article, we summarise the advantages and disadvantages of each category of reconstruction materials. We also provide an update on improvements in material properties through various modern processing techniques. Good results in reconstructive surgery of the orbit require both material and technological innovations.

Surgical Decompression of the Orbit due to Frontal Bone and Roof of the Orbit Fractures - A Case Report

Trauma in the face region has a very varied etiology and can be associated with several important structures. Isolated fractures in the orbit region correspond to about 4 to 16% of all facial fractures and this incidence increases to 30 to 55% if we take into account fractures that expand to extraorbital regions. The present clinical report aims to describe the case of a male patient, 21-years-old, victim of a motorcycle accident with facial trauma and traumatic brain injury due to frontal collision. Clinical and imaging examinations showed multiple fractures in the face with herniation of brain mass to the orbital region and consequent extrusion of the eyeball. Surgical procedures were performed to reduce and fix fractures and multidisciplinary treatment aimed at preserving vision and brain integrity. Thus, the surgical approach and the multidisciplinary treatment led to an excellent prognosis attested by the one-year postoperative period.

Bilateral Orbital Reconstruction With Autologous Bone Graft After Gunshot Wound to Upper Midface

Ballistic maxillofacial injuries are highly destructive, producing significant morbidity and mortality. Survivors’ defects pose unique reconstructive challenges, such as loss of periorbital bone stock in upper midface injuries. While orbital reconstruction has transitioned from primarily autologous grafts to alloplastic implants, ballistic trauma remains a niche that warrants the use of autologous bone equally with alloplastic materials. We report a case of an upper midface gunshot wound in a 20-year-old male producing bilateral comminuted medial orbital wall fractures. Reconstruction utilized bilateral split-thickness calvarial bone grafts through preseptal transcaruncular transconjunctival incisions. This case illustrates the utility of autologous bone grafts in the setting of lost periorbital bone stock and minimizing foreign body in surgical fields at high risk of infection or complication. Further studies are necessary to refine the indications for autologous bone grafting and its benefit relative to alloplastic implants in ballistic periorbital trauma.

Orbital Bone Fractures in a Central London Trauma Center: A Retrospective Study of 582 Patients

ABSTRACT

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the injury patterns and etiology of orbital bone fractures treated at a busy level one trauma center.Between 2015 and 2019, patients with orbital bone fractures from the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at the Royal London Hospital, were evaluated in a retrospective analysis. A pro-forma was used to collect data from electronic patient records. Parameters included age, gender, maxillofacial fracture, mechanism of injury, and length of hospital admission.Of 582 patients, 82% (n = 476) were male and 18% (n = 106) were female, with those in the age group 20 to 29 years most affected (36%; n = 212). The most common etiology was interpersonal violence (55%; n = 320), followed by falls (20%; n = 118) and road traffic accidents (12%, n = 68). The most common isolated orbital bone fracture site was the orbital floor (40%; n = 234). Of the impure orbital fractures, the zygoma was the most commonly involved structure adjacent to the orbit (19%, n = 110).In our department, the authors see high numbers of complex orbital bone requiring surgical treatment. Interpersonal violence is a significant cause of orbital bone fractures with young males most affected. This study provides an insight into the current trends in etiology, demographics, and clinical findings of orbital fractures that will help guide prevention and treatment strategies.

Reconstruction of the orbital floor using supercritical CO2 decellularized porcine bone graft

Orbital floor fractures subsequently lead to consequences such as diplopia and enophthalmos. The graft materials used in orbital floor fractures varied from autografts to alloplastic grafts, which possess certain limitations. In the present study, a novel porcine bone matrix decellularized by supercritical CO2 (scCO2), ABCcolla® Collagen Bone Graft, was used for the reconstruction of the orbital framework. The study was approved by the institutional review board (IRB) of Kaohsiung Medical University Chung-Ho Memorial Hospital (KMUH). Ten cases underwent orbital floor reconstruction in KMUH in 2019. The orbital defects were fixed by the implantation of the ABCcolla® Collagen Bone Graft. Nine out of ten cases used 1 piece of customized ABCcolla® Collagen Bone Graft in each defect. The other case used 2 pieces of customized ABCcolla® Collagen Bone Graft in one defect area due to the curved outline of the defect. In the outpatient clinic, all 10 cases showed improvement of enophthalmos on CT (computerized tomography) at week 8 follow-up. No replacement of implants was needed during follow-ups. To conclude, ABCcolla® Collagen Bone Graft proved to be safe and effective in the reconstruction of the orbital floor with high accessibility, high stability, good biocompatibility, low infection rate and low complication rate.