Pure orbital blowout fracture: new concepts and importance of medial orbital blowout fracture

Predictor of diplopia in pure orbital blowout fracture: A 14-year retrospective analysis

INTRODUCTION

Orbital fractures are common among maxillofacial injuries. The primary objective of this study was to investigate the clinical and radiographic characteristics of pure orbital blowout fractures (OBFs) and their association with post-traumatic diplopia. The secondary objective was to identify predictors of diplopia in pure OBFs.

METHOD

This retrospective cross-sectional study analysed the clinical records and computed tomography (CT) data of patients with pure OBFs, treated between 1st January 2008 and 28th February 2022 at a single tertiary trauma centre in Klang Valley, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Data collected included demographic characteristics and the aetiology of OBFs. Specific factors such as fracture site, size, type, and soft tissue involvement were assessed using CT images, which were converted to DICOM format and analysed with the OsiriX v4.1.2 software. Diplopia was measured using the Hess area ratio percentage (HAR%).

RESULTS

The analysis included records of 70 patients. Motor vehicle accidents (MVAs) accounted for 61.4 % of pure OBFs. The largest fracture observed involved both the orbital floor and the medial wall, with a mean size of 6.40 ± 3.05 cm². Among the patients, 41.6 % had Type 3 fractures, and 50 % (n = 35) had 2-point muscle-soft tissue contact. Fracture size, site, type, and muscle contact were all significantly associated with HAR92 % (p < 0.05). Logistic regression revealed that Type 3 fracture was the significant predictor of diplopia (HAR < 92 %), with an odds ratio of 19.80 (95 % CI: 5.76-68.07, p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Fracture site, size, type, and muscle involvement were important factors associated with diplopia. Among these, Type 3 fractures were identified as the primary predictor of HAR < 92 %.

Assessment of the Correlation Between Types of Orbital Fractures and Ocular Symptoms, and the Effect of Manual Preformed and Patient-Specific Mesh Implants: A Retrospective Study

OBJECTIVE

Although certain orbital fractures are associated with specific clinical symptoms, these relationships should be reviewed comprehensively. The optimal choice between manual preformed mesh implants (MPIs) and patient-specific mesh implants (PSIs) for orbital reconstruction remains undetermined due to inconclusive evidence regarding their effectiveness.

METHODS

This retrospective study investigated 280 patients with unilateral orbital fractures to explore the correlation between clinical ocular symptoms, including diplopia, enophthalmos, limitation of ocular movement, blindness, and the specific type of orbital fracture. The effects on orbital volume (OV) and orbital volume ratio (OVR) of MPI and PSI with and without the use of navigation were also evaluated in this study. Patients were categorized into 4 groups: MPI, PSI, navigation-assisted MPI, and navigation-assisted PSI. After this categorization, alterations in OV and OVR were analyzed before and after surgical intervention.

RESULTS

Significant correlations were observed between the orbital fracture type and diplopia, enophthalmos, and limitation of ocular movement ( P < 0.05). Patients in the MPI group exhibited a notable difference in the postoperative OV between the injured and normal sides ( P < 0.05), but no statistically significant difference was found in the postoperative OV between the injured and normal sides among the patients in the other 3 groups ( P > 0.05). Moreover, the MPI group demonstrated significantly higher postoperative OVR than the other groups ( P < 0.05). Notably, PSI remained effective with or without navigation, MPI combined with navigation technology achieved a reconstruction quality similar to that of PSI by rectifying positioning errors during surgery.

CONCLUSION

The authors found significant correlations ( P < 0.05) between orbital fracture type and diplopia, enophthalmos, and limitations of ocular movement. Patient-specific mesh implant plays an important role in orbital reconstruction. It is also a good method for reconstructing orbital fractures using MPI assisted by navigation technology.

Clinical Significance of the Inferomedial Orbital Strut in Orbital Blowout Fractures: Incidence of Symptomatic Diplopia in a Fractured vs. Intact Strut

Background/Objectives: This study aims to compare the clinical findings, particularly symptomatic diplopia, associated with an inferomedial orbital strut fracture versus intact strut and to determine the clinical significance of the inferomedial orbital strut in patients with orbital floor and medial orbital wall fractures. Methods: A 10-year retrospective observational study involving orbital blowout fracture cases was conducted in our institution. Patients with fractures of the orbital floor medial to the infraorbital groove and medial orbital wall, as seen on computed tomography (CT) scans, were included in this study. Patients with concomitant orbital rim fracture and those with old orbital fractures were excluded. Fracture of the inferomedial orbital strut was diagnosed via coronal CT images and patients were classified into those with an inferomedial orbital strut fracture and those without. Results: A total of 231 orbits from 230 patients was included in the study (fractured strut on 78 sides and intact strut on 153 sides). Approximately 2/3 of patients in both groups had the field of binocular single vision in primary position upon first examination (p = 0.717). Patients with strut fractures demonstrated only comminuted or open fractures, while those without strut fractures showed diverse fracture patterns (p < 0.001). Conclusions: Inferomedial orbital strut fracture does not automatically result in diplopia in patients with orbital blowout fractures. The integrity of the orbital periosteum plays a more essential role in hampering extraocular muscle displacement, thereby preventing symptomatic diplopia in these patients.

Correlation between Orbital Computed Tomography Scan Measurements and Clinical Enophthalmos in Acute Isolated Orbital Floor Fractures

Purpose

To analyze the correlation between orbital computed tomography (CT) scan measurements including the fracture area (FA), the fracture location, the soft-tissue herniation volume (HV), the fractured orbital volume ratio (OVR) to the normal orbit, and the clinical enophthalmos in acute isolated orbital floor fractures.

Methods

We enrolled 100 patients with acute isolated unilateral orbital floor fractures from May 2017 to January 2021. Based on the CT scan findings, we measured the FA, HV, OVR, and fracture site. We assessed enophthalmos using both clinical (CE) and radiographic (RE) measurements. Additionally, we investigated the correlation between CE and the measured parameters, along with the relationship between the pattern of diplopia and the fracture site.

Results

We identified enophthalmos in 81% and diplopia in 78% of the patients with an acute blowout orbital floor fracture. CE was moderately correlated with the FA (R 2 = 0.4341, P < 0.001). CE was weakly correlated with the HV (R 2 = 0.2861, P = 0.04). Anterior fractures caused diplopia in both vertical gazes, but posterior fractures were mostly associated with diplopia in the up gaze. OVR was strongly associated with RE (R 2 = 0.663, P < 0.0001) and moderately associated with CE (R 2 = 0.4378, P < 0.0001). The univariate regression analysis also showed that OVR could significantly predict CE and RE.

Conclusions

OVR surpasses other CT scan measurements such as FA and HV in the prediction of clinical enophthalmos. Thus, OVR could be utilized to estimate clinical enophthalmos at the time of presentation, especially when the acute clinical setting prohibits the proper clinical evaluation.

Orbital Trapdoor Fracture With Extraocular Muscle Entrapment in Adults: A Case Series

PURPOSE

To report adult patients with an orbital trapdoor fracture with extraocular muscle entrapment.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed 566 adult patients (>18 years) with a pure orbital fracture who were referred to us from January 2016 to May 2023. The following data were collected: age, sex, affected side, causes of injury, concomitant ocular injury and nasal bone fracture, presence or absence of oculocardiac reflex and infraorbital nerve hypesthesia, period from injury to surgery, follow-up period, and pre- and postoperative limitation of extraocular muscle motility and fields of a binocular single vision.

RESULTS

We found 5 patients (0.9%) with an orbital trapdoor fracture with extraocular muscle entrapment (age range, 19-47 years; all males; 2 right and 3 left). Causes of injury included performing a bench press, fall, assault, boxing, and bicycle accident. Entrapment of the inferior and medial recti muscles was seen in 2 and 3 patients, respectively. None of the patients had any sign of oculocardiac reflex. After surgical reduction, the field of binocular single vision became normal in 3 patients and was incompletely recovered in 2 patients, in whom consultation with us was delayed.

CONCLUSION

Adults with extraocular muscle entrapment may not present with an oculocardiac reflex. Urgent release of an entrapped muscle is, however, still recommended to avoid permanent limitation of extraocular muscle motility.

Mechanisms of Development of Orbital Fractures: A Review

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study is to review the mechanisms in the development of orbital fractures.

METHODS

This is a comprehensive literature review that summarizes the mechanisms of developing orbital fractures.

RESULTS

There are 3 proposed mechanisms in the development of orbital fractures, which include the buckling, hydraulic, and globe-to-wall contact mechanisms. These mechanisms, as well as patient age, causes of injuries, and periorbital anatomy, influence the extent, sites, and patterns of orbital fractures.

CONCLUSION

A deeper understanding of these mechanisms helps us to detect and properly manage orbital fractures in the clinical setting.

Saccade Analysis in Patients With Orbital-Wall Fractures Without Diplopia

PURPOSE

This study aimed to analyze saccades in patients with orbital-wall fractures with little or no ocular motor impairment.

METHODS

We included 7 eyes of 7 patients with unoperated orbital-wall fractures (3 cases of orbital-floor fractures and 4 cases of medial orbital-wall fractures) with mild or no diplopia who presented to our hospital between August 2019 and March 2021. Eye movements were assessed at the first visit and after 1 month using the Hess area ratio according to the Hess screen test, binocular single vision (BSV) scores (total 59 points) obtained using Goldman perimetry, and maximum velocity and amplitude of saccades within 15 degrees obtained using an eye tracker system.

RESULTS

Hess area ratio and BSV scores at the first visit and after 1 month were 88.6±8.2% and 97.4±3.6% and 49.6±8.5 points and 53.5±6.6 points, respectively, with no significant change (Hess area ratio, P =0.06; BSV, P =0.44). Next, the authors compared the velocity and amplitude of the saccades between the first visit and 1 month later and found no significant changes in any of the 4 directions (adduction, abduction, upgaze, and downgaze). Similarly, no significant differences were observed between the velocity and amplitude of the saccades between the injured and noninjured eyes, both at the first visit and after 1 month.

CONCLUSIONS

In patients with orbital-wall fractures with little or no eye movement impairment, eye tracker-based saccade analysis showed that the saccade velocity and amplitude did not change during the natural course of healing of the fracture.

The Impact of Orbital Volume on Post-traumatic Enophthalmos: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

PURPOSE

Orbital volume increase has been previously linked with post-traumatic enophthalmos. However, this varies and some studies show no correlation. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to synthesize the correlation between orbital volume and enophthalmos and to determine if surgical intervention, enophthalmos measurement method, fracture location, or timing affect this correlation.

METHODS

Automation tools were used to assist in this review of 6 databases. Searches were performed across all dates. Included studies quantitatively reported orbital volume and enophthalmos following traumatic orbital wall fractures in at least 5 adult subjects. Correlational data were extracted or calculated. Random-effects meta-analysis was used with subgroup analyses for each of the secondary aims.

RESULTS

Twenty-five articles describing 648 patients were included. The pooled correlation between orbital volume and enophthalmos was r =0.71 ( R2 =0.50, P <0.001). Operative status, enophthalmos measurement method, and fracture location did not affect pooled correlation. The delay between trauma or surgery and enophthalmos measurement was not shown to modulate correlation for unoperated patients ( R2 =0.05, P =0.22) but showed a negative relationship for postoperative patients ( z =-0.0281, SE=0.0128, R2 =0.63, P =0.03), but this was heavily influenced by a single article. All results had high residual heterogeneity. Studies were rated as moderate, low, or very low quality with few stating explicit hypotheses or limitations.

CONCLUSIONS

Bony orbital volume expansion accounts for around 50% of post-traumatic enophthalmos. The other half is probably explained by soft tissue or geometric bony, rather than volumetric, changes.

Surgical Approaches to Orbital Fractures: A Practical and Systematic Review

Orbital fractures constitute a significant percentage of all midface injuries. Here, we present a contemporary evidence-based review of the major surgical approaches for orbital wall fractures and analyze the literature to compare all major surgical procedures and their complication rates.

Method

A systematic review was conducted to compare surgical approaches (subciliary, transcaruncular, transconjunctival, subtarsal, and endoscopic) and postoperative complications in patients who underwent surgical fixation of orbital wall fractures. A database search in PubMed (PubMed Central, MEDLINE and Bookshelf) was performed for all articles containing the terms "orbital," "wall," "fracture," and "surgery" with different combinations.

Results

A total of 950 articles were obtained and 25 articles were included, representing an analysis of 1137 fractures. The most frequent surgical approach was the endoscopic (33.3%) followed by the external surgical approaches, specifically transconjunctival (32.8%), subciliary (13.5%), subtarsal (11.5%), and transcaruncular (8.9%). The transconjunctival approach had a statistically significantly higher rate of complications (36.19%), followed by the subciliary (21.4%), and endoscopic approach (20.2%, P < 0.0001). The subtarsal approach had a statistically significantly lower rate of complications (8.2%) followed by the transcaruncular approach (14.0%, P < 0.0001).

Conclusion

The subtarsal and transcaruncular approaches were observed to have the lowest rates of complications, whereas the transconjunctival, subciliary, and endoscopic approaches were reported to have higher rates of complications.

Incidence of Orbital Side Effects in Zygomaticomaxillary Complex and Isolated Orbital Walls Fractures: A Retrospective Study in South Italy and a Brief Review of the Literature

Zygomaticomaxillary complex and isolated orbital walls fractures are one of the most common fractures of the midface, often presenting orbital symptoms and complications. Our study was born with the aim of understanding the trend in the incidence of orbital presurgical symptoms, specifically diplopia, enophthalmos and exophthalmos, in the Campania Region in southern Italy. We conducted a retrospective, monocentric observational study at the Maxillofacial Surgery Unit of the Federico II University Hospital of Naples, enrolling 402 patients who reported a fracture of the zygomaticomaxillary complex and orbital floor region from 15 June 2021 to 15 June 2022. Patients were evaluated by age, gender, etiology, type of fracture, preoperative orbital side effects and symptoms. Pre-surgical side effects were studied, and 16% of patients (n = 66) developed diplopia. Diplopia was most common in patients previously operated on for orbital wall fractures (100%), and least common in patients who reported trauma after interpersonal violence (15%) and road traffic accidents (11%). Exophthalmos appeared only in 1% (six cases); whereas it did not appear in 99% (396 cases). Enophthalmos was present in 4% (sixteen cases), most commonly in interpersonal violence cases (two cases). The frequency of orbital complications in patients with zygomaticomaxillary complex and isolated orbital walls fractures suggests how diplopia remains the most common pre-surgical orbital side effect.

Prospective Evaluation of Two Wall Orbital Fractures Involving the Medial Orbital Wall: PSI Reconstruction versus PDS Repair—Worth the Effort?

Proper treatment of the two-wall fractured orbit is still controversial. Specifically, there is no consensus on the issue of the necessity of medial orbital wall repair. With anatomically critical structures at risk during the surgical approach, surgeons’ view on the necessity of medial orbital wall repair often is restricted and an aesthetically disturbing enophthalmos is more likely to be accepted. Therefore, treatment options range from leaving the medial wall without repair to reconstruction with autogenous tissue or alloplastic materials, which can lead to moderate to severe side effects. However, emerging technologies such as patient-specific implants (PSI) offer a reliable and anatomically correct reconstruction of the bony orbit. This study aimed to evaluate the outcome of full orbital reconstruction using PSIs compared to only orbital floor repair using PDS (bioresorbable polydioxanone) foils leaving the medial orbital wall untouched in traumatic two-wall orbital fractures. Of all patients treated at the University Hospital of Düsseldorf between 2017 and 2019 who suffered from traumatic orbital fracture, only patients with a two-wall orbital fracture involving both the orbital floor and the medial wall (n = 68) were included. Patients were treated either with a PSI (n = 35) or a PDS foil (n = 33). Primary outcome parameters were ophthalmological disturbances analyzed via clinical investigation and intra-orbital angles, volumes and implant position analyzed with radiological 3D-datasets. While a two-wall reconstruction using PSIs led to a significant improvement of the enophthalmos, the rate of postoperative enophthalmos was significantly increased in cases of only orbital floor repair with PDS foils. Radiologically, a significant reconstruction of the three-dimensional bony orbit succeeded with the simple use of PSIs leading to a significant reduction in the traumatically enlarged orbital volume. PSI also led to a significant reduction in the traumatically enlarged medial angle of the orbit. This was not the case for single-floor repair with PDS foil. The results of this study suggest that complex orbital fractures can be reconstructed at an even higher degree of accuracy with selective laser-melted PSIs than PDS foils. In order to achieve a true to original reconstruction of the bony orbit, surgical treatment of the medial orbital wall can be advocated for in the long term depending on the indication.

Evaluation of the outcomes of using iliac bone graft for reconstruction of traumatic orbital floor fractures

BACKGROUND

Orbital floor fracture is common in facial trauma patients. Although treated through surgical repair, the orbital floor fractures are associated with risk of persisting sensibility disorders, enophthalmos, and permanent diplopia due to complex anatomy of the orbit, time of surgery, and the reconstructive material used for such repairing.Failure of early recognition and treatment of these traumatic injuries may result in functional and cosmetic problems. Autogenous bone grafts are the gold standard for reconstruction of maxillofacial defects. The iliac crest is also considered the most ideal donor site for bone grafting when a large amount of bone is needed.

OBJECTIVE

To assess the outcome of early repair of orbital floor fractures regarding enophthalmos, double vision, extrusion, and gait disturbance.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A total of 15 patients, all with orbital floor fracture, were enrolled, of which 12 of them were having pure blow-out fractures and 3 patients had impure blow-out fractures. All had undergone primary surgical reconstruction of the orbital floor by autogenous anterior iliac crest within 5-14 days of the injury.

RESULTS

The results were as follows: Postoperative complications at recipient site included diplopia (13.3%), enophthalmos (6.7%), and extrusion (6.7%). At the donor site, one patient had pain and the other had gait disturbances, both relieved within 1 month after treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

Less complications were reported postoperatively with the use of nonvascularized autogenous iliac bone graft.

Postoperative Computed Tomography for Facial Fractures

In order for a radiologist to create reports that are meaningful to facial reconstructive surgeons, an understanding of the principles that guide surgical management and the hardware employed is imperative. This article is intended to promote efficient and salient reporting by illustrating surgical approaches and rationale. Hardware selection can be inferred and a defined set of potential complications anticipated when assessing the adequacy of surgical reconstruction on postoperative computed tomography for midface, internal orbital, and mandible fractures.

Prebending of Prefabricated Orbital Implants: Towards Improved Orbital Angle Symmetry Post Craniofacial Trauma Surgery

PURPOSE

Reconstructive surgery after craniofacial trauma aim to restore orbital anatomy for function and aesthetic reasons. The purpose of this study is to improve postoperative orbital symmetry with the use of prebent prefabricated titanium implants.

METHODS

In this retrospective study, patients with combined unilateral medial wall and floor fractures who underwent orbital reconstruction surgery were selected. The angle of inferomedial orbital strut (AIOS) was measured at 3 standard locations on preoperative facial computed tomography guided scans of the nonfractured orbit in the coronal view and used as a guide to bend the prefabricated titanium implants intraoperatively. The corresponding values were measured on the postoperative computed tomography and compared for symmetry.

RESULTS

Out of 83 patients recruited for the study, 54 were in the prebent group while 29 were in the control group. All other demographics were similar among the 2 groups. Anterior AIOS has a difference of 4.9° between 2 orbits in the prebent group whereas a difference of 15.5° was noted in the nonprebent group. For middle AIOS, a difference of 4.7° was noted in the prebent group whereas nonprebent group had a difference of 14.1°. For posterior AIOS, the prebent group had a difference of 3.8° versus 14.1° in the nonprebent group. The difference in AIOS at all 3 points between the prebent and nonprebent group were significant.

CONCLUSIONS

Anatomical prefabricated titanium plates are versatile implants that facilitate orbital reconstruction. Prebending of these implants according to the fellow orbit can achieve better surgical outcomes in a cost-effective manner.

Correlation between surgical timing and postoperative ocular motility in orbital blowout fractures

PURPOSE

The study reports the correlation between surgical timing and postoperative ocular motility in orbital blowout fractures.

METHODS

This was a retrospective study of 191 patients that underwent surgical repair for unilateral orbital fractures. All patients included in the study had symptomatic diplopia from the fracture. Patients were classified into one of three groups according to the time of surgery after injury: (1) Early (within 14 days of surgery), (2) intermediate (between 15 and 30 days), and (3) late (greater than 30 days). Ocular motility was measured presurgery and at 3 and 6 months postsurgery by Hess chart with calculation of the Hess area ratio (HAR%).

RESULTS

Surgery was conducted at a mean of 24.7 ± 45.0 days (range: 1-283 days) postinjury. There were 120 patients in the early surgery group (surgery at 6.8 ± 3.8 days), 38 in the intermediate surgery group (20.7 ± 4.1 days), and 33 in the late surgery group (95.1 ± 75.0 days). Overall the HAR% improved significantly from a mean of 74.2% preoperatively to 90.8% at 6 months postoperatively (p < 0.01). In the early and intermediate groups, the postoperative HAR% improved significantly with all fracture regions (orbital floor, medial wall, and combined orbital medial wall and floor) (p < 0.05). However, in the late groups, the postoperative HAR% only improved significantly with orbital floor fractures.

CONCLUSION

Pre- and postoperative the HAR% give objective evidence of ocular motility improvement with early orbital floor fracture repair surgery. However, observation can be deployed, as a significant improvement in ocular motility can also be achieved with reconstructive surgery conducted 30 days or more after depressed floor-fragment fractures. Early intervention should be prioritized for symptomatic medial wall fractures, as late surgery does not improve motility.

Three-Dimensional Computer-Aided Analysis of 293 Isolated Blowout Fractures - Which Radiological Findings Guide Treatment Decision?

PURPOSE

Our study purpose was to clarify the extent of isolated unilateral orbital blowout fracture in relation to surgical treatment and other factors behind the treatment decision. The specific aim was to determine which computer-aided measurements based on radiological images associate with treatment choice.

METHODS

A retrospective cohort study was implemented on patients with an isolated unilateral orbital blowout fracture. Computer-aided measurement of fracture extent was performed. The study variables included treatment as primary outcome (surgical vs nonsurgical), post-traumatic orbital volume difference (mL) compared to contralateral orbit, fracture area (mm²), fracture depth (mm) as predictor variables, and age, sex, injury mechanism, side and site of orbital fracture and positions of recti muscles as explanatory variables. Postoperative outcomes were reported. Logistic regression analysis was used to determine the risk factors for surgery. The statistical significance level was set at P < .05.

RESULTS

Of 293 patients, 28.0% received surgical and 72.0% nonsurgical treatment. Volume difference, fracture area and fracture depth predicted surgical outcome (P < .001). In adjusted univariate regression analyses, fractures with moderate and severe displacement of recti muscles were more likely to receive surgical treatment than fractures with mild or no displacement (OR 6.15 and 30.75, respectively, P < .001). Isolated medial wall fractures were significantly less often (OR 0.05, P = .006) and patients with older age (OR 0.97, P = .013) slightly less often treated with surgery. Patients with preoperative symptoms had more often persisting postoperative symptoms than patients without preoperative symptoms.

CONCLUSIONS

Positions of the recti muscles are an independent radiological factor guiding orbital blowout fracture treatment decision. The bony fracture extent is a combination of volume difference, fracture area and fracture depth which are strongly correlated to each other. A computer-aided method significantly facilitates the systematic evaluation of bone fragments, and the extent of orbital fractures.

The trend of recovery period on postoperative eye movement in orbital blowout fractures

To investigate the trend of restoration of postoperative eye movements after orbital blowout fractures by analyzing the percentage of Hess area ratio (HAR%). This was a retrospective study of patients who underwent orbital blow out reconstruction surgery within 28-days post injury. Eye movements were measured preoperatively and 3, 6, and 12 months post operatively by Hess chart. Orbital fractures were classified into three shapes: trap-door fracture with muscle entrapment, trap-door fracture with incarcerated tissue, and depressed fracture. Correlations between fracture shapes, regions, reconstruction implant, age and HAR% were analyzed. This study involved 125 eyes (64 right eyes and 61 left eyes) of 125 isolated orbital fracture cases (95 males, 30 females, mean age: 27.2, range 4-85 years old). Of the total 125 cases, 96 patients had orbital floor fractures, 18 had orbital medial wall fractures, and 11 had combined orbital medial wall and floor fractures. Three had trap-door fractures with muscle entrapment, 42 had trap-door fractures with incarcerated tissue, and 80 had orbital depressed fractures. The overall mean HAR% improved significantly from 76.0 pre-operatively to 95.5 post-12 months (P < 0.01). The mean HAR% in orbital floor fracture improved significantly from 76.7 pre-operatively to 92.9 and 94.7 at 3, 6 months respectively. There was a non-significant improvement in the HAR% in medial wall fractures from 83.2 pre-operatively to 89.5 at 3 months and a significant improvement to 93.2 at 6 months (p < 0.05). Orbital fractures were reconstructed with either Unsintered hydroxyapatite particles/poly l-lactide composite sheet (u-HA/PLLA composite sheet) (91 patients), a silicone silastic sheet (20 patients) a combination of sheets (7 patients) or without an implant (7 patients). There was no significant difference in the HAR% improvement between the different implants. The HAR% improvement was significantly greater in patients <18 years old than in those aged 18 or over. The HAR% is an effective method of the objective assessment of recovery after orbital fracture. Patients and surgeons should be aware that the recovery after medial wall fractures is slower than after floor fractures and continues after three months post-surgery and that a longer period of observation without further intervention may be required for medial wall fractures, whilst floor fractures are likely to have achieved their maximal recovery by three months.

Endoscopic slide-in orbital wall reconstruction for isolated medial blowout fractures

Background

This study evaluated the efficacy of the endoscopic medial orbital wall repair by comparing it with the conventional transcaruncular method. This surgical approach differs from the established endoscopic technique in that we push the mesh inside the orbit rather than placing it over the defect.

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed 40 patients with isolated medial orbital blowout fractures who underwent medial orbital wall reconstruction. Twenty-six patients underwent endoscopic repair, and 14 patients underwent external repair. All patients had preoperative computed tomography scans taken to determine the defect size. Pre- and postoperative exophthalmometry, operation time, the existence of diplopia, and pain were evaluated and compared between the two methods. We present a case showing our procedure.

Results

The operation time was significantly shorter in the endoscopic group (44.7 minutes vs. 73.9 minutes, <i>p</i>= 0.035). The preoperative defect size, enophthalmos correction rate, and pain did not significantly differ between the two groups. All patients with preoperative diplopia, eyeball movement limitation, or enophthalmos had their symptoms resolved, except for one patient who had preexisting strabismus.

Conclusion

This study demonstrates that endoscopic medial orbital wall repair is not inferior to the transcaruncular method. The endoscopic approach seems to reduce the operation time, probably because the dissection process is shorter, and no wound repair is needed. Compared to the previous endoscopic method, our method is not complicated, and is more physiological. Larger scale studies should be performed for validation.

Recurrent Orbital Trauma Following Repaired Orbital Floor Fracture

A study of a 22-year-old male who was assaulted and sustained a left orbital floor blowout fracture was presented in this study. The orbital floor was repaired with a titanium-reinforced porous polyethylene implant. Two years postoperatively, the patient sustained repeated left orbital trauma. The orbital floor implant remained stable while the medial wall blew out.

Resorbable Implants for Orbital Fractures: A Systematic Review

BACKGROUND

Orbital fractures are one of the most common sequelae of facial trauma.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to summarize published data for resorbable implants in orbital reconstruction, including polymer composition, degradation characteristics, osteoconductivity, and complications such as enophthalmos, diplopia, and peri-implant inflammation. A literature search of the National Library of Medicine was performed via PubMed using the keyword resorbable orbital implant. A total of 27 studies were reviewed. Strength of data was assessed according to the Oxford Centre criteria.

RESULTS

Most commercially available implants provide adequate tensile strength for up to 6 months (with the exception of polydioxanone, which loses strength within 1 month, and poly(D,L-lactide) within 3 months). This is sufficient for the isolated orbital floor or medial wall (tensile strength, ~300 MPa) but insufficient for reconstruction of load-bearing areas (eg, the inferior orbital rim with tensile strength of ~1.2 GPa). Thicker products (>1 mm) have increased risk for delayed inflammation than thinner products. Postoperative complications including delayed inflammation (0%-9%), eyelid malposition (0%-5%), enophthalmos (5%-16%), diplopia (0%-16%), infection (0%-2%), and infraorbital nerve hypesthesia (2%-18%) are variably distributed across implants with several notable exceptions: poly(L-lactide) has an increased risk of delayed inflammation, and polydioxanone has a risk of delayed enophthalmos and hematoma.

CONCLUSIONS

Resorbable implants are suitable for isolated medial wall or floor fractures with intact bony buttresses and function as a barrier rather than a load-bearing support.

Association between pre- and intraorbital soft tissue volumes and the risk of orbital blowout fractures using CT-based volumetric measurements

Orbital blowout fractures result from trauma which breaks the bony orbital wall while sparing the rim. Previous research into fracture mechanism has focused on bony anatomy. This study evaluates the role of preorbital and intraorbital soft tissue volume in fracture risk. A retrospective case-control study was conducted on 51 cases of adults with unilateral orbital blowout fracture, matched to 51 controls who had experienced orbital trauma by comparable mechanisms without sustaining a fracture. Axial Computed Tomography (CT) images with orbital fine cuts were assessed on a 3D post-processing workstation to measure the volume of the pre- and intraorbital soft tissues, then compared between the two groups using Mann-Whitney U analysis. In the case group, there were 40 males (78%), injured by assault (66%), fall (12%), motor vehicle collision (10%), or other cause (12%). The control group included 33 males (65%), injured by assault (55%), fall (22%), motor vehicle (4%), or other cause (20%). There was no significant difference in mechanism rates between case and control groups. Median preorbital volumes were 12.5 cm³ in the case group and14.1 cm³ in controls (p = 0.02). Median intraorbital volumes were 24.4 cm³ in the case group and 25.9 cm³ in controls (p = 0.003). CT volumetric analysis shows that patients who sustained blowout fractures have lower preorbital and intraorbital soft tissue volume than those who did not fracture. This underscores the significant role that soft tissues play in dissipating impact forces, both anterior to the orbital rim and within the orbit itself.

A Comparison of Endoscopic Reduction for Medial Blowout Fractures Using a Bioresorbable Panel and Silastic Sheet

BACKGROUND

The aim of the study was to compare the effectiveness of endoscopic endonasal reduction using a bioresorbable panel and silastic sheet packed with Merocel for blowout fractures of the medial orbital wall.

DESIGN

Retrospective study.

METHODS

The study group consisted of 147 patients who underwent endoscopic endonasal reduction of a blowout fracture of the medial orbital wall between January 2005 and December 2016. Fifty-seven fractures were repaired using a splint formed by a silastic sheet and Merocel (splint group), whereas 90 fractures were repaired using a bioresorbable panel for interposition (interposition group). Postoperative complications and surgical outcomes of the 2 groups were compared.

RESULTS

Preoperative diplopia in both groups (n = 30) was resolved except 1 in interposition group after the reduction. Enophthalmos was resolved in 10 cases in the splint group and in 6 cases in the interposition group. In postoperative CT scans, 20 of the 57 cases in the splint group exhibited under- or overcorrection, compared with 9 of the 90 cases in the interposition group (P < 0.05). There were no sinus infections or implant-related side effects in the interposition group except for implant extrusion in 4 cases, whereas 7 cases developed sinusitis in the splint group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Endonasal endoscopic reduction using a bioresorbable panel may be considered as a surgical alternative for the treatment of medial orbital blowout fractures.

Relationship Between Nasal Fracture and Blowout Fracture: Can Nasal Fracture Be a Predictor of Blowout Fracture?

PURPOSE

Nasal and blowout fractures are the most common injuries from craniomaxillofacial trauma. Nasal fractures are easily diagnosed by clinical signs, such as pain and crepitus. However, blowout fractures are frequently asymptomatic and are easy to miss without computed tomographic (CT) scanning. This study analyzed the relation between the 2 fracture types to determine whether nasal fracture could be used as a predictor of blowout fracture.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

CT scans of 1,368 patients who underwent reduction surgery for nasal fracture were retrospectively reviewed. The pattern of nasal fractures (n = 1,368) was classified as frontal or lateral according to the direction of impact. Blowout fractures (n = 297) were classified into 3 types according to the position of the fracture: medial, inferior, or inferomedial wall. After calculating the number of patients in each group, the relation between nasal and blowout fracture types was statistically analyzed.

RESULTS

Of 305 patients with frontal-type nasal fractures, the incidence of medial, inferior, and inferomedial wall fracture was 26, 7, and 9, respectively. Of 1,063 patients with lateral-type nasal fractures, the incidence of medial, inferior, and inferomedial wall fracture was 118, 75, and 62, respectively. Medial wall fracture was most common in the 2 nasal fracture groups and showed a higher frequency in the lateral-type group.

CONCLUSIONS

This study showed a strong relation between nasal fractures and medial wall blowout fractures. If nasal fracture is suspected, especially the lateral type, then thorough examination for medial wall blowout fracture, with a high index of suspicion, should be performed.

Medial Buttressing in Orbital Blowout Fractures

PURPOSE

To study whether ethmoidectomy predisposes the orbit to medial wall fracture with lesser trauma.

METHODS

An interventional cadaver study of 5 heads (10 orbits); the left or right orbit was randomized to undergo endoscopic complete ethmoidectomy with the fellow orbit as control. Fractures were induced with direct globe trauma, and heads underwent CT scanning. Energy to induce fracture, peak orbital pressure at time of fracture, fracture pattern, and volume of herniated tissue were measured and analyzed.

RESULTS

Fractures were induced in both orbits of all cadavers. Experimental orbits after ethmoidectomy sustained orbital fracture at less energy required (2.14 ± 0.66 vs. 3.10 ± 0.19 J, mean difference: -0.96 ± 0.33 J, p < 0.05). Similarly, peak orbital pressure was lower for ethmoidectomized orbits than for controls (11.8 ± 8.42 vs. 28.4 ± 13.2 mm Hg, mean difference: -16.5 ± 6.9 mm Hg, p < 0.05). Orbits after ethmoidectomy were more likely to sustain medial wall involvement in fracture (100%) compared with controls (20%, p < 0.05) and pure medial wall fracture (80%) compared with controls (0%, p < 0.05). Overall volume of herniated orbital contents was not significantly different between groups (p = 0.25); volume of herniated tissue from the medial wall only was significantly greater in orbits after ethmoidectomy (mean difference: 1.01 ± -0.39 cm, p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Endoscopic ethmoidectomy in fresh cadavers reduces impact energy necessary to induce orbital fracture and increases the prevalence of medial wall involvement. Clinicians may wish to counsel patients undergoing endoscopic sinus surgery about these relative risks.

Multidetector CT of Midfacial Fractures: Classification Systems, Principles of Reduction, and Common Complications

The advent of titanium hardware, which provides firm three-dimensional positional control, and the exquisite bone detail afforded by multidetector computed tomography (CT) have spurred the evolution of subunit-specific midfacial fracture management principles. The structural, diagnostic, and therapeutic complexity of the individual midfacial subunits, including the nose, the naso-orbito-ethmoidal region, the internal orbits, the zygomaticomaxillary complex, and the maxillary occlusion-bearing segment, are not adequately reflected in the Le Fort classification system, which provides only a general framework and has become less relevant in contemporary practice. The purpose of this article is to facilitate the involvement of radiologists in the delivery of individualized multidisciplinary care to adults who have sustained blunt trauma and have midfacial fractures by providing a clinically relevant review of the role of multidetector CT in the management of each midfacial subunit. Surgically relevant anatomic structures, search patterns, critical CT findings and their management implications, contemporary classification systems, and common posttraumatic and postoperative complications are emphasized. ^©RSNA, 2018.

Orbital Floor Reconstruction: A Comparison of Outcomes between Absorbable and Permanent Implant Systems

There are distinct advantages and disadvantages between bioresorbable and permanent implants in orbital floor reconstruction. Our aim was to compare the outcomes and complications of resorbable implants and permanent implants in orbital floor fracture repair. A retrospective chart review was performed on all patients who underwent orbital floor fracture repair at a rural, tertiary care center from 2011 through 2016. Main outcome measures included improvement in diplopia, ocular motility, enophthalmos, hypoglobus, and infraorbital nerve sensation. A total of 87 patients underwent orbital floor reconstruction. After exclusion criteria were applied, 22 patients were included in the absorbable implant cohort, and 20 patients in the nonabsorbable implant cohort. All absorbable implants were composed of poly L-lactide/poly glycolide/poly D-lactide (PLL/PG/PDL), and nonabsorbable implants included both titanium/porous polyethylene (Ti/PPE) composite and titanium (Ti) mesh. Mean fracture surface area was 2.1 cm ² (standard deviation [SD]: ± 0.9 cm ² , range: 0.4-3.6 cm ² ) for the absorbable implant group and 2.3 cm ² (SD: ± 1.1 cm ² , range: 0.6-4.4 cm ² ) for the nonabsorbable implant group ( p  = 0.58). There were no significant differences in diplopia, ocular motility, enophthalmos, hypoglobus, and infraorbital nerve sensation between absorbable and nonabsorbable implant groups. The mean follow-up time for absorbable and nonabsorbable implant groups was 622 (SD ± 313) and 578 (SD ± 151) days respectively ( p  = 0.57). For moderate-size orbital floor fracture repairs, there is no difference in outcomes between absorbable implants consisting of PLL/PG/PDL and nonabsorbable implants consisting of Ti mesh or Ti/PPE combination.

A novel anatomical thin titanium mesh plate with patient-matched bending technique for orbital floor reconstruction

This study developed an anatomical thin titanium mesh (ATTM) plate for Asian orbital floor fracture based on the medical image database. The computer aided stamping analysis was performed on four hole/slot patterns included the control type without hole design, circular hole pattern, slot pattern and hole/slot hybrid patterns within the ATTM plate with upper/lower dies of averaged orbital cavity reconstruction models. The curved-fan ATTM plate with 0.4 mm thickness was manufactured and pre-bent using a patient matched stamping process to verify its feasibility and the interfacial fitness between the plate and bone on the orbital floor fracture model. The stamping analysis found that the hole/slot hybrid patterns design resulted in the most favorable performance among all designs owing to the lowest maximum von-Mises stress/strain and spring-back value. The interfacial adaption results test showed that the average patient-matched stamping bending gap size was only 0.821 mm and the operative time was about 8 s. This study concluded that the curved-fan ATTM plate with hole/slot hybrid pattern design and patient-matched pre-bent technique can fit the ATTM plate/orbital cavity interface well, decrease unstable fracture segment mobility and improve the overall reduction efficiency.

Analysis of Orbital Volume Measurements Following Reduction and Internal Fixation Using Absorbable Mesh Plates and Screws for Patients With Orbital Floor Blowout Fractures

INTRODUCTION

Hinge-shaped fractures are common type of orbital floor blowout fractures, for which reduction and internal fixation is ideal. Nonetheless, orbital floor reconstruction using alloplastic materials without reducing the number of bone fragments is the most frequently used procedure. Therefore, this study analyzed and compared the outcomes between open reduction and internal fixation using absorbable mesh plates and screws, and orbital floor reconstruction, by measuring the orbital volume before and after surgery.

METHOD

Among patients with orbital floor blowout fractures, this study was conducted on 28 patients who underwent open reduction and internal fixation, and 27 patients who underwent orbital floor reconstruction from December 2008 to September 2015. The mechanism of injury, ophthalmic symptoms before and after surgery, and the degree of enophthalmos were examined; subsequently, the volumes of the affected and unaffected sides were measured before and after surgery based on computed tomography images. This study compared the degree of recovery in the correction rate of the orbital volume, ophthalmic symptoms, and enophthalmos between the 2 groups.

RESULT

The patients who underwent open reduction and internal fixation, and the patients who underwent orbital floor reconstruction showed average correction rates of 100.36% and 105.24%, respectively. Open reduction and internal fixation showed statistically, significantly superior treatment outcomes compared with orbital floor reconstruction. The ophthalmic symptoms and incidence of enophthalmos completely resolved in both groups.

CONCLUSION

For orbital floor blowout fractures, open reduction and internal fixation using absorbable mesh plates and screws was a feasible alternative to orbital floor reconstruction.

Isolated Medial Orbital Wall Fracture Associated with Enophthalmos in a Paediatric Patient: An Unusual Presentation

Purpose

To report a case of isolated medial orbital wall fracture with enophthalmos in a paediatric patient and describe the clinical presentation and findings by means of computed tomography (CT) of the head and eyes.

Methods

We looked at the patient's medical and ophthalmologic history, and an ophthalmologic examination and a CT of the head were performed at baseline.

Results

A 14-year-old boy was admitted to the emergency department of our institution with ecchymosis of his right eyelids secondary to a sport accident. Physical examination revealed a moderate limitation of upgaze without diplopia. CT showed a medial orbital wall fracture without haemorrhage and a gross accumulation of air in the right eyelid with pressure exertion over the right globe and enophthalmos. The patient was treated conservatively with oral antibiotics and steroids showing dramatic improvement within 1 week. Enophthalmos and periorbital emphysema were completely resolved within 3 months after the accident as indicated by CT.

Conclusions

We conclude that surgical intervention and intravenous treatment are not warranted in similar cases of medial orbital wall fracture. Medical history, clinical and paraclinical evaluations, and a regular follow-up, including CT, are needed though to avoid complications such as painful abduction, horizontal diplopia, pseudo sixth nerve paresis, or pseudo Duane.

Pure Orbital Trapdoor Fractures in Adults: Tight Entrapment of Perimuscular Tissue Mimicking True Muscle Incarceration with Successful Results from Early Intervention

Orbital trapdoor fractures (OTFs) entail entrapment of intraorbital soft tissues with minimal or no displacement of the affected bones and are almost exclusively seen in children. This article aimed to report the diagnosis and treatment of an OTF of the floor in an adult patient and to critically review the literature regarding the management aspects of this specific subset of orbital blowout fractures in adults. A 29-year-old man presented with limitations of vertical right eye movements owing to blunt orbital trauma. The patient mainly complained of double vision in upper gazes and some episodes of nausea. Neither floor defect nor significant bone displacement found on orbital computed tomography, while edema of inferior rectus muscle was apparent. The patient underwent surgical repair 5 days later; a linear minimally displaced fracture of the floor was recognized and complete release of the entrapped perimuscular tissues was followed. Within the first week postoperatively, full range of ocular motility was restored, without residual diplopia. This case was the only identified pure OTF over a 6-year period in our department (0.6% of 159 orbital fractures in patients >18 years). By reviewing the literature indexed in PubMed, a very limited number of either of isolated case reports or retrospective case series of pure OTFs has been reported in adults. Contrary to the typical white-eyed blowout fractures, the literature indicates that OTFs in adults seem to not always constitute absolute emergency conditions. Although such fractures need to be emergently/ immediately treated in children, in the absence of true muscle incarceration, adults may undergo successful treatment within a wider but either early or urgent frame of time. Adults frequently exhibit vagal manifestations and marked signs of local soft tissues injury.

The influence of concomitant medial wall fracture on the results of orbital floor reconstruction

INTRODUCTION

Up to 35% of orbital floor fractures extend to the medial wall. This results in restriction of both abduction and adduction, leading to horizontal diplopia. The greater the defect, the more pronounced the enophthalmos.

AIM OF THE STUDY

The aim of the study was to determine the influence of concomitant medial wall defects on enophthalmos and diplopia, and the influence of intraoperative revision on the results of surgical reconstruction in patients with orbital floor fracture.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

78 cases of orbital floor fracture, with or without concomitant medial wall defect, were retrospectively analyzed. Reconstruction surgeries were performed in a similar fashion, but with variation in the alloplastic materials used. Careful investigation of the area was performed during the surgery.

RESULTS

Patients with associated medial wall defects had significantly more pronounced enophthalmos than those with isolated floor fracture, with no such difference after the orbital reconstruction. Postoperative vertical diplopia was more common in patients with an associated medial defect.

CONCLUSIONS

Associated medial wall defect leads to more severe enophthalmos at presentation. However, if the medial aspect of the orbital wall is revised properly, postoperative outcomes are not inferior to those in cases of isolated floor fracture.

Medial Orbital Wall Reconstruction With Porous Polyethylene by Using a Transconjunctival Approach With a Caruncular Extension

BACKGROUND

The reported rate of isolated medial orbital wall fractures varies widely but has been found to be as high as 55% of all orbital fractures. Identifying and repairing medial orbital wall defects by using appropriate materials improves patient outcome considerably; however, most related research has focused on orbital floor defect management rather than medial orbital wall treatment, and no consensus on repairing medial orbital wall fractures exists. Furthermore, medial orbital wall fracture is a main cause of posttraumatic enophthalmos. In this study, we introduce a modified surgical technique for repairing large medial wall fractures stably, also reviewed relevant literature and established an algorithm for managing medial orbital wall fractures.

METHODS

We reviewed the outcomes of facial trauma patients who underwent facial bone reduction and internal fixation surgery in our hospital between October 1, 2010, and October 1, 2013. The patients were all treated medial orbital wall reconstruction with porous polyethylene by using a transconjunctival approach with a caruncular extension for large medial orbital wall fractures. Medical records and radiologic images of the patients were reviewed retrospectively. The outcomes evaluated were trauma mechanism, clinical findings of ocular injury, preoperative and postoperative ocular symptoms, degree of enophthalmos, and orbital volume restoration after surgery.

RESULTS

Transconjunctival approach with a caruncular extension was performed without any complications. The incidence of diplopia was 47.4% and enophthalmos (>2 mm) was 31.6%, with no significant diplopia and enophthalmos after surgery. Patients were symptom-free on follow-up. The average enophthalmos was successfully corrected from 0.88 mm preoperatively to 0.26 mm and orbital volume was corrected from 26.22 to 22.99 cm after surgery; these results also showed P less than 0.001.

CONCLUSIONS

The current results suggest that the proposed method of medial orbital wall reconstruction, in which porous polyethylene is implanted by using a transconjunctival approach with a caruncular extension, yields favorable outcomes. The approach facilitates a wide visualization of the operative field, which provides sufficient working space for implant insertion and is consequently free from iatrogenic trauma or surgery-related complications.

Ocular Complications in Assault-Related Blowout Fracture

BACKGROUND

Blowout fracture is one of the most common facial fractures, and patients usually present with accompanying ocular complications. Many studies have looked into the frequency of persistent ocular symptoms, but there is no study on assault patients and related ocular symptoms. We evaluated the incidence of residual ocular symptoms in blow-out fractures between assaulted and non-assaulted patients, and sought to identify any connection among the degree of enophthalmos, defect size, and assault-related injury.

METHODS

A retrospective review was performed for any patient who sustained a unilateral blowout fracture between January 2010 to December 2014. The collected data included information such as age, gender, etiology, and clinical ocular symptoms as examined by an ophthalmologist. This data was analyzed between patients who were injured through physical altercation and patients who were injured through other means.

RESULTS

The review identified a total of 182 patients. Out of these, 74 patients (40.7%) have been struck by a fist, whereas 108 patients (59.3%) have sustained non-assault related injuries. The average age was 36.1 years, and there was a male predominance in both groups (70 patients [94.6%] in the assaulted group and 87 patients [80.6%] in the non-assault group). Diplopia and enophthalmos were more frequent in patients with assault history than in non-assaulted patients (p<0.05). Preoperatively, 25 patients (33.8%) with assault history showed diplopia, whereas 20 patients (18.5%) showed diplopia in the non-assaulted group (p<0.05). Preoperative enophthalmos was present in 34 patients (45.9%) with assault history, whereas 31 patients (28.7%) showed enophthalmos in the non-assaulted group (p<0.05).

CONCLUSION

Patients with an assault history due to a fist blow experienced preoperative symptoms more frequently than did patients with non-assault-related trauma history. Preoperative diplopia and enophthalmos occurred at a higher rate for patients who were assaulted. Surgeons should take into account such characteristics in the management of assaulted patients.

Role of Negative Orbit Vector in Orbital Blow-Out Fractures

BACKGROUND

Negative orbit vector is defined as the most anterior globe portion protrudes past the malar eminence. The aim of the study was to evaluate the relationship between negative orbit vector and blow-out fracture location analyzing the distance between the anterior corneal surface and orbital bone with facial soft tissue in medial and orbital floor blow out fractures using orbital computed tomography (CT).

METHODS

Seventy-seven patients diagnosed with blow-out fractures involving the medial or orbital floor were included. Distances from the anterior cornea to lower lid fat, inferior orbital wall, inferior orbital rim, and anterior cheek mass were measured using orbital CT scans. The proportion of negative orbit vector and measured distanced were compared between medial wall fracture and orbital floor fracture. Medical records including age, sex, concomitant ophthalmic diagnosis, and nature of injury were retrospectively reviewed.

RESULTS

Forty-three eyes from 43 patients diagnosed with medial wall fracture and 34 eyes from 34 patients diagnosed with orbital floor fracture were included. There was no significant difference in the distance from the anterior cornea to lower lid fat (P = 0.574), inferior orbital wall (P = 0.494), or orbital rim (P = 0.685). The distance from anterior cornea to anterior cheek mass was significantly different in medial wall fracture (-0.19 ± 3.49 mm) compared with orbital floor fracture (-1.69 ± 3.70 mm), P = 0.05. Negative orbit vector was significantly higher in orbital floor fracture patients (24 among 34 patients, 70.6%) compared with those with medial wall fractures (19 among 43 patients, 44.2%) (P = 0.04).

CONCLUSIONS

Patients presenting with a negative orbit vector relationship when the most anterior portion of globe protruded past the anterior cheek mass and malar eminence were more likely to develop orbital floor fracture than medial wall fracture.

Impact of surgical timing of postoperative ocular motility in orbital blowout fractures

Purpose

To investigate the surgical timing postinjury in regard to ocular motility in patients with orbital-floor blowout fractures.

Methods

This study involved 197 eyes (92 right eyes and 105 left eyes) of 197 patients (154 males and 43 females, mean age: 29.0 years, range: 7–85 years) with pure orbital blowout fractures. All patients underwent surgical repair within 30 days postinjury and were followed up for 3 months or more postoperative (mean follow-up period: 8.4 months, range: 3–59 months). Orbital blowout fractures were classified into one of three shapes: (1) trap-door fracture with muscle entrapment, (2) trap-door fracture with incarcerated tissue and (3) depressed fragment fracture. Ocular motility was estimated by percentage of Hess area ratio (HAR%) on the Hess chart at the final follow-up examination. In addition, correlations between postinjury surgical timing and HAR% were analysed.

Results

The mean postinjury surgical timing was 10.7±7.8 days (range: 0–30 days). The mean postoperative HAR% (92.9%±10.5%) was significantly improved compared with preoperative HAR% (73.5%±21.7%) (p<0.01). The mean postoperative HAR% (98.3%±4.4%) of the orbital-floor trap-door fracture patients with incarcerated tissue who underwent surgical repair within 8 days postinjury was significantly better than that of the patients who underwent surgical repair after 8 days (94.2%±5.8%) (p<0.01).

Conclusions

Patients with orbital-floor trap-door blowout fractures with incarcerated tissue that were repaired within 8 days postinjury had better outcomes than those repaired after 8 days, and HAR% is a useful method to record orbital fracture surgical outcomes.

Imaging modalities for midfacial fractures

The middle third of the facial skeleton is one of the most complex areas of the human body. A critical factor determining the successful treatment of midfacial fractures is an early and correct diagnosis. Assessment and management of the traumatized patient requires rapid evaluation and decision making. Imaging for the evaluation of patients with midfacial fractures has contributed to achieving an accurate diagnosis and a subsequent successful management. It requires a knowledge of those imaging modalities and projections that provide the most information with the least exposure of radiation to the patient. Conventional radiography has been used successfully for many years although advanced imaging methods such as—three-dimensional computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and cone beam computed tomography have been applied more recently. In this article, we will take a relook at various modalities to image midfacial fractures, and discuss the rationale for selection of those procedures that offer the greatest diagnostic information.

Correlation between the 2-Dimensional Extent of Orbital Defects and the 3-Dimensional Volume of Herniated Orbital Content in Patients with Isolated Orbital Wall Fractures

Background

The purpose of this study was to assess the correlation between the 2-dimensional (2D) extent of orbital defects and the 3-dimensional (3D) volume of herniated orbital content in patients with an orbital wall fracture.

Methods

This retrospective study was based on the medical records and radiologic data of 60 patients from January 2014 to June 2016 for a unilateral isolated orbital wall fracture. They were classified into 2 groups depending on whether the fracture involved the inferior wall (group I, n=30) or the medial wall (group M, n=30). The 2D area of the orbital defect was calculated using the conventional formula. The 2D extent of the orbital defect and the 3D volume of herniated orbital content were measured with 3D image processing software. Statistical analysis was performed to evaluate the correlations between the 2D and 3D parameters.

Results

Varying degrees of positive correlation were found between the 2D extent of the orbital defects and the 3D herniated orbital volume in both groups (Pearson correlation coefficient, 0.568−0.788; R²=32.2%−62.1%).

Conclusions

Both the calculated and measured 2D extent of the orbital defects showed a positive correlation with the 3D herniated orbital volume in orbital wall fractures. However, a relatively large volume of herniation (>0.9 cm³) occurred not infrequently despite the presence of a small orbital defect (<1.9 cm²). Therefore, estimating the 3D volume of the herniated content in addition to the 2D orbital defect would be helpful for determining whether surgery is indicated and ensuring adequate surgical outcomes.