Transnasal Endoscopic Approach for the Treatment of Medial Orbital Wall Fractures

Approaches to the Maxillofacial Skeleton: Application of Standard and Minimally Invasive Techniques

Management of maxillofacial trauma is complex and challenging and requires a clear understanding of facial anatomy and function. There are multiple approaches that can be used to access each anatomical region, each with specific indications and complication profiles. Open, "invasive" approaches are being replaced or augmented with minimally invasive and endoscopic approaches when possible. Thorough knowledge of indications, surgical techniques, and potential complications allows surgeons to make appropriate decisions for access and repair of fractures. This article is a comprehensive review of standard and minimally invasive approaches, with description of techniques and pros and cons for their use.

[Current developments in primary and secondary surgical treatment of midface and periorbital trauma]

Fractures of the periorbita and the midface are among the most common bony facial injuries. Aesthetic and functional reconstruction is a challenge in clinical routine. This article illustrates recent developments in the primary and secondary surgical treatment of midface and periorbital trauma. Resorbable patches and films increase the anatomic reconstructive capacity and enable treatment of extensive orbital fractures. Orbital fractures with involvement of supporting key structures are advantageously reconstructed using patient-specific implants (PSI), which are fabricated by computer-assisted manufacturing techniques and positioned by intraoperative navigation. If late complications such as bulbar malposition and enophthalmos have occurred after the initial procedure, they can be addressed by overcorrective restoration of orbital volume. The use of PSI for initial fracture restoration of the midface is not yet established but may be useful in re-osteotomies of misconsolidated fragments. Extensive midface defects with significant soft tissue involvement can be reconstructed using microvascular grafts. Consecutive reconstructive procedures may include orthognathic surgery and local flap reconstruction. In summary, the integration and advancement of computer-assisted techniques now offers individualized reconstruction procedures, which may be a viable alternative to conventional implants and compression miniplates. Future developments may focus on the search for innovative biomaterials, which can be integrated into computer-aided design and manufacturing processes.

Nasal packing with Merocel in a glove finger after endoscopic endonasal reduction of medial blowout fracture

After endoscopic endonasal reduction (EER) for medial blowout fracture (BOF), nasal packing may be necessary for sustaining the reduced orbital contents. This study aimed to introduce a new packing technique using Merocel in a glove finger.We retrospectively reviewed 131 patients with a mean age of 42.2 years (range, 13-80 years), who underwent EER for medial BOF, followed by a postoperative nasal packing of Merocel in a glove finger, between March 2016 and December 2019. Sex, age, side and cause of trauma, pre-operative diplopia and enophthalmos, duration from the occurrence of trauma to surgery, postoperative diplopia, enophthalmos, complications like sinusitis, and revision surgery were evaluated.The most common cause of injury was physical assault in 47 cases and a fall or slip event in 34. Pre-operatively 22 patients had diplopia and 1 patient had enophthalmos. Mean duration after trauma to the surgery was 13.2 days (range, 1-29 days). The mean operative time was 34.1 minutes (range, 10-70 minutes). Four weeks after operation, the nasal packing was removed at an outpatient clinic, with minimal pain, discomfort, and bleeding and no evidence of infection or inflammation. A computed tomography scan performed at 3 months postoperatively showed no re-bulging. The computed tomography image of 1 patient showed frontal sinus haziness; the patient had a headache and underwent endoscopic sinus surgery for symptomatic relief. Three patients had diplopia and 1 had enophthalmos at final follow-up. No other major postoperative complications were noted.Merocel in a glove finger packing technique proved itself to be safe and effective after EER for medial BOF.