[Orbital fractures in children]. / Fractures de l'orbite de l'enfant.

The aim of this article is to review data concerning paediatric orbital fractures. These fractures exhibit strong specificities because they occur in a growing face. Due to the craniofacial growing pattern and the peumatization of paranasal sinuses, there are differences in the anatomical location of orbital fracture with the age: before the age of seven they are mostly orbital roof and after seven they involve the orbital floor. The clinical diagnosis is confirmed with a computed tomography scan (CT scan), gold standard for the imaging in the orbital fractures. The magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) offers a better soft-tissue depiction and is useful when clinical data are not consistent with CT scan findings. The orbital fractures in children are rarely operated. In emergency the main surgical indications are the trap-door fracture involving the ocular muscles and the compressive haematomas. We hypothesize that the periosteum more likely than the bony structure is involved in the responsible trap-door fractures: the thickness and the elasticity of the periosteum leads to reposition the floor or the medial wall of the orbit to its initial position.

[Hard palate mucosal graft for posterior lamella repair]. / Greffe de fibro-muqueuse palatine en chirurgie palpébrale.

Several techniques have been proposed for posterior lamella repair. The ideal gaft should be easy and safe to harvest, be lined by mucosa and be rigid enough to support the lower lid against retraction. Hard palate mucosal grafts meet these criteria. The surgical procedure is done under local or general anaesthesia and a graft up to a 40 x 20 mm can be harvested. Paramedian and subperiostal harvest is recommended, local complications are less frequent (bleeding and sensory lesions) and the hard palate mucosa is of better quality at this site (thinner graft with fewer salivary glands but rigid enough due to the periostal layer). Donor site complications such as local bleeding can be reduced by meticulous surgical technique and local postoperative care such as compression using a mouthguard. The main indications for hard palate mucosal graft are lower eyelid reconstruction and management of lower eyelid retraction.