Orbital wall restoration with primary bone fragments in complex orbital fractures: A preliminary study

Orbital wall restoration with primary bone fragments in complex orbital fractures

BACKGROUND

Complex orbital fractures are impure orbital fractures because they involve the orbital walls and mid-facial bones. The author reported an orbital wall restoration technique in which the primary orbital wall fragments were restored to their prior position in complex orbital fractures in 2020. As a follow-up to a previous preliminary study, this study retrospectively reviewed the surgical results of complex orbital wall fractures over a 4-year period and compared the surgical outcomes by dividing them into groups with and without balloon restoration.

METHODS

Data of 939 patients with facial bone fractures between August 2018 and August 2022 were reviewed. Of these, 154 had complex orbital fractures. Among them, 44 and 110 underwent reduction with and without the balloon technique respectively. Pre- and postoperative Naugle exophthalmometer (Good-Lite Co.) scales were evaluated. The orbital volume and orbital volume ratio were calculated from preoperative and 6 months postoperative computed tomography images.

RESULTS

Among 154 patients with complex orbital fractures, 44 patients underwent restoration with the balloon technique, and 110 patients underwent restoration without it. The Naugle scale did not differ significantly between the two groups, but the orbital volume ratio significantly decreased by 3.32% and 2.39% in groups with and without the balloon technique and the difference in OVR was significantly greater in patients in the balloon restoration group compared with the control group. Postoperative balloon rupture occurred in six out of 44 cases (13.64%). None of the six patients with balloon rupture showed significant enophthalmos at 6 months of follow-up.

CONCLUSION

The balloon rupture rate was 13.64% (6/44 cases) with marginal screw fixation, blunt screws, and extra protection with a resorbable foam dressing. Furthermore, we restored the orbital wall with primary orbital fragments using balloon support in complex orbital wall fractures.

Treatment of a naso-orbito-ethmoid fracture using open reduction and suspension sutures: a case report

Naso-orbito-ethmoidal (NOE) fractures are complicated fractures of the mid-face. The treatment of NOE fractures is challenging and a comprehensive treatment strategy is required. We introduce a case of NOE fracture treated with open reduction and suspension sutures. A 28-year-old woman presented with a unilateral NOE fracture. To reduce the frontal process of the maxilla, a suspension suture was made by pulling the fragment using a double arm suture via a transcaruncular incision. The suture thread was placed in the horizontal plane. Another suspension suture on the inferior orbital rim assisted reduction procedure, and they passed through the overlying skin. The reduction alignment could be finely adjusted by tightening the transcutaneous suture threads while checking the degree of bone alignment through the subciliary incision. The two suture threads were suspended using a thermoplastic nasal splint. An additional skin incision on the medial canthal area, which would have resulted in a scar, could be avoided. Four months postoperatively, computed tomography showed an accurate and stable reduction. The patient was satisfied with her aesthetic appearance, and functional deficits were not present.

Limited eye movement caused by clumping of fibrin glue used in blowout fracture surgery: a care report

Fibrin glue is a topical agent widely used for hemostasis, wound healing, and surgical adhesion. Complications of fibrin glue itself are extremely rare because it is absorbed over time, but can occur as a result of inappropriate application. We report a case of a postoperative complication caused by inappropriate application of fibrin glue in blow-out fracture surgery. A 65-year-old male patient presented with periorbital swelling and an open wound on the right infraorbital area. Computed tomography showed a right orbital floor fracture. After reduction of the herniated tissue into the orbit, an implant was inserted and fibrin glue was applied to stabilize the implant. This procedure was performed without difficulty, but the patient complained of persistent diplopia and limited eyeball movement after surgery. An imaging study showed a mass-like lesion, which was not a hematoma, in the orbital cavity. In a second operation, the mass was identified as clotted fibrin glue that had not been applied properly. After removal, the patient’s symptoms were relieved without further complications. Appropriate and careful application of fibrin glue is necessary to avoid unnecessary complications.

Orbital floor fracture repair with implants: a retrospective study

Background

Although prompt surgery after an orbital fracture is preferable, the actual timing of surgery in real-world settings varies. Therefore, this study investigated the outcomes of implant surgery for inferior orbital wall fractures by comparing three groups according to the time interval between the injury and surgery.

Methods

A retrospective review was conducted of patients’ medical charts and initial computed tomography images from 2009 to 2020. The time to treatment was chosen by patients or their guardians based on the patients’ comorbidities and the physician’s explanation. The patients were divided into three groups according to the time of surgery (group 1: 3–7 days, group 2: 8–14 days, group 3: 15 or more days). Data were collected on age, the time interval until surgery, the dimensions of the defect, the operation time, the follow-up period, and the postoperative paresthesia score (ranging from 0 to 10). The outcomes were evaluated using a 4-point scale: 4= good (no complications), 3 = fair (no subjective symptoms), 2 = poor (remaining paresthesia), and 1 = very poor (strabismus and/or enophthalmos).

Results

The study included 85 patients with unilateral fractures who underwent surgery from 3 to 93 days after injury. The overall score distribution of the surgical outcomes was as follows: good= 63, fair= 7, poor= 6, and very poor= 9. The three groups showed no significant differences in the transverse dimension of the injury (p=0.110) or the anteroposterior dimension (p=0.144). In groups 1, 2, and 3, the postoperative outcome scores were 3.84± 0.37, 3.63± 0.87, and 2.93± 1.33 (p=0.083), and the percentage of patients with good outcomes was 84%, 81.25%, and 57.14%, respectively.

Conclusion

Performing surgery using an artificial implant within 2 weeks of the injury showed better outcomes and fewer postoperative complications than when treatment was delayed.