S Spalthoff1, J Dittmann2, R Zimmerer2, P Jehn2, F Tavassol2, N-C Gellrich2. 1. Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg Strasse 1, 30625 Hannover, Germany. Electronic address: spalthoff.simon@mh-hannover.de. 2. Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg Strasse 1, 30625 Hannover, Germany.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Estimating the needed overcorrection of the globe position depends mainly on the clinical evaluation during an operation to correct hypo- and enophthalmos in primary and secondary orbital reconstruction for which several autogenous and alloplastic materials can be used. However, donor-side morbidity and time loss in obtaining autogenous materials are problematic. We developed a novel technique using titanium spacers that minimizes these factors. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study of all patients treated with titanium spacers for orbital reconstruction at our department between 2014 and 2018. The primary predictor variable was a change in the deformity. The outcome variable was visual appearance, measured on a scale from 0 to 3. Other study variables included binocular vision and complications. Descriptive statistics and the Mann-Whitney rank sum test were used to check for statistical significances. The P-value was set at 0.05. RESULTS: The study sample was composed of 29 patients. Postoperative results were comparable to the results of other methods described in the literature with approximately 25% of our patients experiencing residual visual deformity. The overall visual deformity decreased in our study, and visual appearance improved significantly (P<0.001). Complication rates were also comparable to those reported by other investigators. CONCLUSION: Our method is an effective and safe procedure for correcting hypo- and enophthalmos while minimizing donor-side morbidity and treatment time.
INTRODUCTION: Estimating the needed overcorrection of the globe position depends mainly on the clinical evaluation during an operation to correct hypo- and enophthalmos in primary and secondary orbital reconstruction for which several autogenous and alloplastic materials can be used. However, donor-side morbidity and time loss in obtaining autogenous materials are problematic. We developed a novel technique using titanium spacers that minimizes these factors. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study of all patients treated with titanium spacers for orbital reconstruction at our department between 2014 and 2018. The primary predictor variable was a change in the deformity. The outcome variable was visual appearance, measured on a scale from 0 to 3. Other study variables included binocular vision and complications. Descriptive statistics and the Mann-Whitney rank sum test were used to check for statistical significances. The P-value was set at 0.05. RESULTS: The study sample was composed of 29 patients. Postoperative results were comparable to the results of other methods described in the literature with approximately 25% of our patients experiencing residual visual deformity. The overall visual deformity decreased in our study, and visual appearance improved significantly (P<0.001). Complication rates were also comparable to those reported by other investigators. CONCLUSION: Our method is an effective and safe procedure for correcting hypo- and enophthalmos while minimizing donor-side morbidity and treatment time.