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.