Do patients with facial trauma to the orbito-zygomatic region also sustain significant ocular injuries?

Abstract

A retrospective study of orbito-zygomatic injuries presenting to eye casualty over 3-year period revealed the majority of patients with pure orbital "blow-out' fractures had no other associated ocular abnormalities and 96% of these patients had a visual acuity of 6/9 or greater at discharge. In contrast only 74% of patients with multiple facial fractures had a visual acuity of 6/9 or greater at discharge. Severe ocular trauma was uncommon in patients with orbito-zygomatic injuries. Decrease in visual acuity was the main clinical finding accompanying significant eye injury. Early ophthalmic assessment is recommended in these cases to exclude potentially serious complications such as traumatic optic neuropathy. All patients with blow-out fractures managed conservatively had complete resolution of troublesome diplopia without extra-ocular muscle surgery.