Endoscopic Endonasal Repair of the Orbital Medial Wall Fracture Utilising Nasal Septal Cartilage as the Reconstructive Material

Abstract

Background

To repair orbital medial wall fractures, otorhinolaryngologists often use the silicone sheet technique by inserting an inverted U-shaped silicone sheet into the middle meatus after the removal of fractured bones, and packing gauze inside the silicone sheet for several days to fix the shape of the medial wall. However, this method does not sufficiently reduce the orbital content.

Objective

To describe the surgical procedure to repair medial wall fractures using nasal septal cartilage as the reconstructive material.

Methods

First, endoscopic septoplasty is performed. Although the correction of the septal deviation is performed to secure the operative field, the nasal septal cartilage, except the L-strut is resected simultaneously. After septoplasty, the fractured bones of the lamina papyracea are removed from the herniated orbital contents, and then the orbital contents can be reduced without resistance by pushing laterally. Subsequently, the cartilage is inserted beneath the fracture edges of the orbital medial wall with great care to avoid entrapping the orbital soft tissue and extraocular muscles.

Results

The cartilage can be placed appropriately along the medial wall of the orbit.

Conclusion

This technique enables to repair most cases of orbital medial wall fractures using the endoscopic endonasal approach alone without alloplastic implants.