INTRODUCTION: Hinge-shaped fractures are common type of orbital floor blowout fractures, for which reduction and internal fixation is ideal. Nonetheless, orbital floor reconstruction using alloplastic materials without reducing the number of bone fragments is the most frequently used procedure. Therefore, this study analyzed and compared the outcomes between open reduction and internal fixation using absorbable mesh plates and screws, and orbital floor reconstruction, by measuring the orbital volume before and after surgery. METHOD: Among patients with orbital floor blowout fractures, this study was conducted on 28 patients who underwent open reduction and internal fixation, and 27 patients who underwent orbital floor reconstruction from December 2008 to September 2015. The mechanism of injury, ophthalmic symptoms before and after surgery, and the degree of enophthalmos were examined; subsequently, the volumes of the affected and unaffected sides were measured before and after surgery based on computed tomography images. This study compared the degree of recovery in the correction rate of the orbital volume, ophthalmic symptoms, and enophthalmos between the 2 groups. RESULT: The patients who underwent open reduction and internal fixation, and the patients who underwent orbital floor reconstruction showed average correction rates of 100.36% and 105.24%, respectively. Open reduction and internal fixation showed statistically, significantly superior treatment outcomes compared with orbital floor reconstruction. The ophthalmic symptoms and incidence of enophthalmos completely resolved in both groups. CONCLUSION: For orbital floor blowout fractures, open reduction and internal fixation using absorbable mesh plates and screws was a feasible alternative to orbital floor reconstruction.
INTRODUCTION: Hinge-shaped fractures are common type of orbital floor blowout fractures, for which reduction and internal fixation is ideal. Nonetheless, orbital floor reconstruction using alloplastic materials without reducing the number of bone fragments is the most frequently used procedure. Therefore, this study analyzed and compared the outcomes between open reduction and internal fixation using absorbable mesh plates and screws, and orbital floor reconstruction, by measuring the orbital volume before and after surgery. METHOD: Among patients with orbital floor blowout fractures, this study was conducted on 28 patients who underwent open reduction and internal fixation, and 27 patients who underwent orbital floor reconstruction from December 2008 to September 2015. The mechanism of injury, ophthalmic symptoms before and after surgery, and the degree of enophthalmos were examined; subsequently, the volumes of the affected and unaffected sides were measured before and after surgery based on computed tomography images. This study compared the degree of recovery in the correction rate of the orbital volume, ophthalmic symptoms, and enophthalmos between the 2 groups. RESULT: The patients who underwent open reduction and internal fixation, and the patients who underwent orbital floor reconstruction showed average correction rates of 100.36% and 105.24%, respectively. Open reduction and internal fixation showed statistically, significantly superior treatment outcomes compared with orbital floor reconstruction. The ophthalmic symptoms and incidence of enophthalmos completely resolved in both groups. CONCLUSION: For orbital floor blowout fractures, open reduction and internal fixation using absorbable mesh plates and screws was a feasible alternative to orbital floor reconstruction.