Orbital Wall Fractures: Evaluation and Management

Abstract

Over a 49-month period, 121 orbital wall fractures were treated and 92 were followed for a median of 6.5 months (minimum, 3 months). Associated injuries included a 17% incidence of serious globe or optic nerve injuries and 13% incidence of lacrimal drainage disruption. Diplopia occurred in 23% and dystopia in 11%. Management was by observation alone in 14% and exploration in the remainder, with layered gelfilm for defects smaller than 4 cm², alloplastic sheeting for defects to 6 cm², and outer cortex of parietal bone for larger dehiscences. There were no decrements in vision from operation, dystopias were corrected to within 2 mm of normal, and diplopia persisted only in those with extraocular muscle paresis. There was no benefit to exploration of orbital wall defects smaller than 2.5 cm² or with reduction of other midfacial fractures (e.g., malar) when neither dystopia nor entrapment was present, because defects not obturated in such cases had no sequelae.