M Alafaleq1, F Roul-Yvonnet2, T Schouman3, P Goudot2. 1. Service de chirurgie maxillo-faciale et stomatologie, AP-HP, hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, 75013, Paris, France; Sorbonne Université, UPMC université Paris 06, 75005, Paris, France. Electronic address: monira-afaleq@hotmail.com. 2. Service de chirurgie maxillo-faciale et stomatologie, AP-HP, hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, 75013, Paris, France; Sorbonne Université, UPMC université Paris 06, 75005, Paris, France. 3. Service de chirurgie maxillo-faciale et stomatologie, AP-HP, hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, 75013, Paris, France.
Abstract
PURPOSE: To describe the clinical presentation of isolated medial orbital wall fractures, the duration of symptoms and their management. METHODS: Retrospective study of 60 orbits of 60 patients over 18 years of age with isolated medial wall fractures of the orbit at the facial and trauma center of the Pitié-Salpêtrière university hospital of Paris between June 2012 and November 2015. Diplopia, enophthalmos and limitation of extraocular muscle movements were investigated. The location of the fractures was confirmed with three-dimensional computed tomography. Intraocular trauma was ruled out. Incomplete data were excluded. RESULTS: Eighty-three patients were identified (June 2012-November 2015). Sixty patients (39 males and 21 females) had a complete medical record. The mean age was 37 years, ranging from 18 to 75 years. Assault was the most common cause in 45 patients (75%), followed by sports accidents in 8 patients (13%), motor vehicle accidents in 6 patients (10%), and a fall in 1 patient. On presentation, 51 patients (85%) had no symptoms. Diplopia was present in 9 patients (15%). Four of them (6.7%) had associated enophthalmos. The diplopia resolved spontaneously in 5 patients (5.5%) and persisted more than 2 weeks in 4 patients (6.7%), for whom surgical intervention was recommended. Only 4 patients (6.7%) were managed surgically due to the presence of combined persistent diplopia and enophthalmos. The mean time from trauma to surgery was 18 days (15-45 days). At the 45-day postoperative follow-up, persistent diplopia was present in 1 patient out of the four treated surgically, with no residual enophthalmos. Fifty-six patients were managed conservatively. CONCLUSION: Asymptomatic fractures do not require surgical repair, and conservative management is adequate. Such fractures heal on their own without any consequences.
PURPOSE: To describe the clinical presentation of isolated medial orbital wall fractures, the duration of symptoms and their management. METHODS: Retrospective study of 60 orbits of 60 patients over 18 years of age with isolated medial wall fractures of the orbit at the facial and trauma center of the Pitié-Salpêtrière university hospital of Paris between June 2012 and November 2015. Diplopia, enophthalmos and limitation of extraocular muscle movements were investigated. The location of the fractures was confirmed with three-dimensional computed tomography. Intraocular trauma was ruled out. Incomplete data were excluded. RESULTS: Eighty-three patients were identified (June 2012-November 2015). Sixty patients (39 males and 21 females) had a complete medical record. The mean age was 37 years, ranging from 18 to 75 years. Assault was the most common cause in 45 patients (75%), followed by sports accidents in 8 patients (13%), motor vehicle accidents in 6 patients (10%), and a fall in 1 patient. On presentation, 51 patients (85%) had no symptoms. Diplopia was present in 9 patients (15%). Four of them (6.7%) had associated enophthalmos. The diplopia resolved spontaneously in 5 patients (5.5%) and persisted more than 2 weeks in 4 patients (6.7%), for whom surgical intervention was recommended. Only 4 patients (6.7%) were managed surgically due to the presence of combined persistent diplopia and enophthalmos. The mean time from trauma to surgery was 18 days (15-45 days). At the 45-day postoperative follow-up, persistent diplopia was present in 1 patient out of the four treated surgically, with no residual enophthalmos. Fifty-six patients were managed conservatively. CONCLUSION: Asymptomatic fractures do not require surgical repair, and conservative management is adequate. Such fractures heal on their own without any consequences.