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

Pediatric orbital fractures

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

The aim of this study was to summarize current evidence on the clinical presentation, evaluation, and management of pediatric orbital fractures. Recent trends in management strategies as well as emerging surgical techniques for pediatric orbital fracture repair are presented.

RECENT FINDINGS

Although somewhat limited, growing bodies of evidence support a conservative approach with close follow up in pediatric orbital fractures. For those patients necessitating surgical repair, resorbable implants are increasingly preferred given their lack of donor site morbidity and a minimal impact on the developing craniofacial skeleton. There are emerging data reporting the use of three-dimensional (3D) printing-assisted approaches and intraoperative navigation; however, more research is needed to assess their applicability in the pediatric population.

SUMMARY

There are few studies with large patient cohorts and long-term follow up given the rare incidence of pediatric orbital fractures, which restricts the generalizability of research on the topic. The studies available increasingly suggest that fractures without clinical evidence of entrapment can be managed conservatively with close follow up. A variety of reconstructive implants are available for those fractures necessitating repair. Donor site morbidity, availability, and need for additional procedures should all be factored into the reconstructive decision-making process.

Assessing effectiveness of endoscope-assisted medial orbital wall fracture repair vs. no surgery using benefit-risk metrics and literature review

PURPOSES

To evaluate clinical usefulness of endoscope-assisted medial orbital wall fracture repair via the retrocaruncular approach (rc-EAMOWFR) vs. no surgery (NS), and to perform a narrative review of relevant literature.

METHODS

This was a retrospective cohort study enrolling isolated medial orbital wall fracture (IMOWF) eyes presented to two German level 1 trauma centers during a 7-year interval. The predictor variable was treatment type (rc-EAMOWFR vs. NS), and the main outcomes were late enophthalmos (LE) and retrobulbar hemorrhage (RH) assessed at 9-15 posttraumatic months. Descriptive and bivariate statistics were computed at α = 95%. Binary adjustments enabled calculation of number needed to treat (NNT), to harm (NNH), and likelihood to be helped or harmed (LHH) for demonstrating benefit-risk tradeoffs. Moreover, a narrative review was also performed.

RESULTS

The sample comprised 502 patients (28.3% females; mean age, 46.5±19.2 years) with 541 IMOWF eyes (5.9% NS; 7.2% LE; 1.3% RH). Operated eyes had significantly lower LE events than NS eyes (symptomatic IMOWF: P < .0001; 95% confidence interval [CI], .03 to .16; NNT = 2 [95% CI, 1.1 to 6.1]; asymptomatic IMOWF: P < .0001; 95% CI, .01 to .07; NNT = 2 [95% CI, 1.1 to 1.8]). There were 7 (1.5%) RH events following rc-EAMOWFR (P = .99; 95% CI, .06 to 17.4; NNH = 68 [95% CI, 38.3 to 254.2]). LHH calculations posited that rc-EAMOWFR was 34 times more likely to prevent LE than to cause RH, regardless of fracture symptoms. Our results conformed to those of other 15 studies.

CONCLUSIONS

The results of this study suggest that all IMOWFs be treated. rc-EAMOWFR performed in every 68 IMOWFs would be at risk of one RH event, but prevent 34 eyes from LE due to untreated fractures. Nearly 72% of untreated IMOWFs develop LE after 9 months.