Temporary Severe Neurogenic Blepharoptosis after Reconstruction of Orbital Medial Wall Fracture

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To report two cases of temporary severe neurogenic blepharoptosis after successful reconstruction of orbital medial wall fracture. CASE SUMMARY: A 36-year-old woman and a 52-year-old man received orbital medial wall reconstruction with Medpor(R) for large fractures. Before the operation, the patients had only moderate swelling of the lid and periorbital ecchymosis. There were no limitations of extraocular muscles or ptosis. The operations were successful, although the patients developed unilateral complete ptosis with totally impaired levetor muscle function immediately after recovering from anesthesia. There were no anisocoria or limitations of the extraocular muscles. After oral steroid therapy, the patients began to improve on postoperative day 4 and after one month, respectively, and recovered to normal lid height and levator function after two months. CONCLUSIONS: Blepharoptosis after orbital medial wall reconstruction may result from ischemic damage at the end of the superior branch of the oculomotor nerve in the orbit due to compressive and tractional manipulation. Although very rare and temporary, this complication should be considered important because the occurrence can be unpredictable and may cause dissatisfaction to the surgeon and the patient after a successful operation.