Combined inferior and medial surgical approaches and overlapping thin implants for orbital floor and medial wall fractures.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the clinical outcome of combined orbital floor and medial wall fracture repair using overlapping thin implants.
METHODS: A retrospective chart review was conducted on 19 fracture repairs performed by one surgeon using thin overlapping implants inserted through transcaruncular and inferior fornix incisions.
RESULTS: Nineteen combined medial wall and floor fractures were repaired in 18 patients (14 male, 4 female). The median age was 37 years (range, 13-60 years). The median trauma-to-surgery interval was 9 days (range, 1 day to 6 years). Two overlapped implants (0.2-0.4 mm) were used in 12 fracture repairs, and 3 overlapped implants (0.2-0.3 mm) were used in 7 fracture repairs. Materials included prepunched nylon foil in 18 fractures and, in one fracture, high-density polyethylene. Follow-up time ranged from 1 month to 53 months (median, 7 months). No complications occurred during the postoperative follow-up period. Clinically significant enophthalmos was not observed after treatment.
CONCLUSION: The repair of combined orbital floor and medial wall fractures using thin overlapping implants inserted through transcaruncular and inferior transconjunctival incisions is a safe, effective, and cosmetically sensitive surgical technique.