Factors Affecting Persistent Diplopia after Surgical Repair of Isolated Inferior Orbital Wall Fracture

PURPOSE: To investigate factors affecting persistent diplopia after surgical repair of isolated inferior orbital wall fractures. METHODS: Thirty-three patients who underwent surgical repair of isolated inferior orbital wall fractures in Inha University Hospital Ophthalmology Department from 2014 to 2017 were enrolled in this study. The authors examined facial computed tomography, diplopia, extraocular muscle movement, and Hertel's exophthalmometer before and 6 months after surgery. The diplopia which was not recovered even at 6 months postoperatively was defined as persistent diplopia. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed on parameters that were found to be related to persistent diplopia using univariable logistic regression analyses. RESULTS: Univariable regression analysis showed that preoperative ocular motility limitation, preoperative diplopia, the type of fracture, the number of contacts with the fracture site and extraocular muscle (EOM), and EOM tenting were associated with persistent postoperative diplopia. Multivariable regression analysis using the previously mentioned five parameters showed 28.3-fold and 17.4-fold greater probabilities of diplopia after surgery in preoperative diplopia and EOM tenting, respectively (p = 0.023). CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative diplopia and EOM tenting were associated with persistent postoperative diplopia. These parameters were predictors of persistent diplopia in eyes with isolated inferior orbital wall fractures.

The Effect of Intraoperative Exophthalmometric Values on Enophthalmos Correction in Inferior Orbital Wall Reconstruction

PURPOSE: To measure the enophthalmos corrective effect after inferior orbital wall reconstruction, we compared preoperative and intraoperative exophthalmometric values with postoperative exophthalmometric values. METHODS: From January 2014 to April 2016, 60 eyes of 60 patients who underwent surgery for inferior orbital wall fracture were included. In Group 1, the exophthalmometric value was measured before surgery, during the operation, and 6 months after surgery using the Naugle exophthalmometer. In Group 2, the value was measured before surgery and 6 months after surgery using the Hertel exophthalmometer. The thickness of implants was determined by preoperative exophthalmometric values and overcorrection of 0.5 mm was performed in Group 1 patients with relatively large fractures. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 32.4 years in Group 1 and 34.3 years in Group 2. The mean duration between injury and surgery was 4.2 weeks in Group 1 and 2.3 weeks in Group 2. There was no statistically significant difference between preoperative exophthalmometric values in Group 1 (−1.78 ± 0.31 mm) and Group 2 (−1.81 ± 0.26 mm), but postoperative exophthalmometric values between Group 1 (−0.25 ± 0.78 mm) and Group 2 (−0.53 ± 0.46 mm) were statistically different (p = 0.034). CONCLUSIONS: The exophthalmometric values and wall fracture size are important factors for determining implant thickness of inferior orbital wall reconstruction. Intraoperative measurement of exophthalmometric values should be considered in inferior orbital wall reconstruction for enophthalmos correction.

Infraorbital Nerve Hypesthesia after Inferior Orbital Wall Fracture and Reconstruction Surgery

PURPOSE: To report the incidence of infraorbital nerve hypesthesia after inferior orbital wall fracture and reconstruction surgery and analyze the duration and factors to influence the occurence of the infraorbital nerve hypesthesia. METHODS: From March, 2001 to March, 2016, the medical records of 171 patients with isolated orbital floor fracture reconstructed with porous polyethylene or titanium mesh was analyzed retrospectively. Injury mechanism, fracture type, time interval to surgery, fracture size, type and thickness of implant were analyzed. Orbit computed tomography scan was performed at preoperative and postoperative 6 weeks. RESULTS: Mean age was 30.4 years (male:female = 130:41). The mean time interval to surgery was 9.5 days. Incidence of infraorbital hypesthesia was 9.9% preoperatively, 38% in a week of surgery, 13.5% in 6 weeks and 5.8% in 6 months. Infraorbital hypesthesia lasts 20.5 weeks and the length of infraorbital canal was the only risk factor of persistent infraorbital hypesthesia. CONCLUSIONS: Postoperative infraorbital nerve hypesthesia presents in a week in most patients. It last about 20.5 weeks, then mostly recovers in 6 months. This study will be useful to predict the clinical course of the patients with infraorbital nerve hypesthesia. Therefore, full explanation about the facial sense change is necessary for the patients with inferior orbital wall fracture.

Repair of Large Posterior Inferior Wall Fracture Using Medpor(R) Channel Sheet Implant

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effectiveness of a Medpor(R) (porous polyethylene) channel sheet in large posterior and inferior orbital wall fracture repair. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the clinical features and postoperative outcomes of 52 patients who had undergone orbital wall reconstruction with a Medpor(R) (porous polyethylene) channel sheet between February 1999 and December 2005. RESULTS: Among 52 patients, 44 were men and 8 were women, with average age of 30.8 years and average follow-up period of 6.3 months. The surgery was performed on average at15 days after injury in 44 patients, except for in 8 reoperated cases. Miniplate or microplate fixation on the orbital rim with a Medpor(R) channel was required in all 52 patients for large posterior inferior wall fracture. Preoperatively, 43 patients had symptomatic diplopia, which resolved completely in 32 patients and decreased in 11 following surgery. No patients had induced diplopia or exacerbation of preoperative diplopia, except the primary gaze of 2 patients with hypertropia remained, requiring strabismus correction. The mean difference in preoperative enophthalmos between both eyes was 2.8 mm, which improved to 0.8 mm at the last follow-up. There were no instances of orbital infection, implant exposure or migration, or visual loss during follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Medpor(R) channel implant provided optimal reconstruction of large inferior orbital wall fracture with posterior defect that lacked structural support.

Repair of Medial Orbital Wall Fracture

From March 1997 to August 2001, Titanium mesh screen 1.0 (SYNTHES(R)) were applied to the repair of 29 medial orbital fractures; 18 patients with orbital inferior wall fracture, 16 patients with nasal bone fracture and 6 patients with pure medial wall fracture. Clinically, the periorbital ecchymosis and subconjunctival hemorrage were sensitive indications of orbital wall fracture. Even though there are no sign of diplopia or enophthalmos, in cases of simple nasal bone fracture with periorbital ecchymosis and subconjunctival hemorage, the evaluations of medial orbital wall fracture were strongly recommended because the medial orbital wall fractures occurred frequently combined with simple nasal bone fractures. Titanium mesh screen 1.0 was used as onlay implant to fit the anatomical shape on the fracture portion needed to be reconstructed and 1.3mm microscrews (SYNTHES(R)) were used to fix titanium mesh screen. The patients were followed up for 18 months with no significant enophthalmos or diplopia.