Application of craniofacial surgical precepts in orbital reconstruction following trauma and tumour removal

Safety of titanium mesh for orbital reconstruction

During the past several decades, the standard of care for orbital reconstruction after trauma has been autogenous bone grafts. Complications of bone grafts, including donor site morbidities such as scar alopecia and graft resorption with delayed enophthalmos, have inspired an interest in the use of alloplastic substitutes such as titanium. Titanium's role in orbital reconstruction was limited originally to small orbital defects, and as an adjunct to bone grafts. More recently, clinical studies have documented the sole use of titanium mesh to reconstruct large orbital defects. This study sought to document further the safety and efficacy of titanium mesh in reconstructing large orbital defects after facial trauma, with more extensive follow-up compared with previous studies. In the current study, 55 patients with 67 orbital fractures underwent orbital reconstruction with titanium mesh over a 5-year period. Associated fractures were reduced anatomically and fixed rigidly. For the analysis, 44 patients with 56 orbital fractures had adequate follow-up (mean, 44 months). An abscess developed in one patient who received high-dose steroids for 72 hours before reconstruction. She was treated with broad-spectrum intravenous antibiotics and bedside incision and drainage, and did not require removal of the titanium mesh. No patient in the current series required removal of the titanium mesh. A single case of uncorrected enophthalmos was treated with bone grafting rather than mesh revision. Large orbital defects can be reconstructed using titanium mesh with good functional results and minimal risk for infection. This study covered the authors' first 5 years using titanium. They have now used titanium mesh in orbital reconstructions for more than 10 years, without any additional cases of infection.

The use of porous granular hydroxyapatite in secondary orbitocranial reconstruction

The search for the ideal bone-graft substitute has been the focus of many research and clinical studies. Hydroxyapatite is one such material that combines osseointegration with maintenance of implant volume and excellent durability. We present our experience in 29 patients ranging in age from 3 to 22 years (mean age 10.5 years) who underwent secondary orbitocranial reconstruction of large contour defects utilizing porous granular hydroxyapatite. Follow-up ranges from 6 to 72 months (mean 30 months). Indications for secondary surgery included residual bony contour defects of the frontal bone, temporal areas, and superior orbital rims that were present 12 months or more after initial surgery. There was one infection secondary to a chronic seroma necessitating removal of the porous hydroxyapatite, and one patient required revision for underfilling and another for overfilling. Excellent permanent contour improvement was obtained with a smooth skin surface in the remainder of our patients. The contour corrections have been long lasting, without evidence of porous hydroxyapatite resorption or migration.

Frontal basilar trauma: classification and treatment

We report our experience with 14 consecutive cases of frontal basilar trauma occurring in children and adolescents aged 18 months to 18 years (mean 9.5 years). Brain parenchymal injury resulting in functional deficit occurred in 5 patients (36 percent), 2 patients suffered bilateral blindness, and 1 suffered unilateral loss of vision. A classification system and treatment algorithm based on the clinical fracture pattern seen by computed tomography are introduced. Type I, central, is confined to the upper nasoethmoidal complex, central frontal bone, and medial third of the superior orbital rims. Type II, unilateral, involves the entire supraorbital rim and the upper lateral orbital wall, extending into the squamosa of the temporal bone and ipsilateral frontal bone. Type III, bilateral, involves fractures of the upper nasal ethmoidal complex, bilateral supraorbital and upper lateral orbital wall fractures, and bilateral frontal bone fractures. This classification was utilized to plan elective orbital and cranial osteotomies, similar to those used for frontal orbital advancement at the time of acute fracture repair. Frontal orbital osteotomies were used to access the anterior cranial fossa, orbital apices, and nasofrontal ducts and to obtain an intact bony template for side-table reassembly of the fracture fragments. There was no significant operative morbidity, one late cerebrospinal fluid leak, and no infections. Reoperation was necessary in four patients (29 percent) for aesthetic indications.

Correction of post-traumatic orbital deformities: operative techniques and review of 26 patients

The skeletal reconstruction of post-traumatic orbital deformities includes the zygomatic complex, the nasoethmoid area and the internal orbit. Repositioning of the malpositioned zygoma is the key element and the first step. Due to remodelling processes, most of the landmarks for proper positioning are lost, leaving the lateral orbital wall as the only reliable landmark in secondary revisions. The details of the skeletal reconstruction are discussed. Between January 1988 and December 1992, 31 patients with major post-traumatic orbital deformities have been operated on, of which 26 could be followed for a minimum of 6 months. A total of 61 operative procedures using craniofacial techniques have been performed. Complications occurred in 5 (15%) of the 26 patients, the most severe being visual loss caused by a displaced bone graft. The most frequent deformity was enophthalmos. Most patients presented with more than one deformity. The aesthetic results were rated as 'good' in 12, 'satisfactory' in 8 and 'unsatisfactory' in 6 patients. Of the patients suffering from double vision, 55% were improved after orbital reconstruction. Craniofacial techniques allow radical correction of post-traumatic skeletal deformities. The functional and aesthetic results, however, are limited by the soft tissues.

Orbital marginotomies for treatment of orbital and periorbital lesions

Access osteotomies allowing temporary displacement of various segments of the orbital rim provide direct visualization of deep orbital and paraorbital regions. These marginotomies are classified, according to the orbital region involved, as lateral, medial, superior, or inferior, and they provide adequate exposure of the corresponding orbital wall and its surrounding structures. Since these procedures are without complications and cause no unpleasant cosmetic effects, they are highly recommended for the treatment of various lesions in this area as well as for correction of malformations.

Titanium mesh in orbital wall reconstruction

Successful use of titanium mesh sheets in the reconstruction of orbital wall defects of up to 2.5 x 2.5 cm following trauma and followed up for a mean of 24 months is demonstrated. This material is especially useful in orbital floor and medial wall blow-out fractures, and is a valuable additional material for use in maxillofacial reconstruction.

Reconstruction of the zygomatic area. A comparison between osteotomy and onlay techniques

The contour of the hypoplastic or displaced zygoma can be corrected by two basically different techniques. For reconstruction, onlays with alloplastic or autologous material are advocated. In post-traumatic cases an osteotomy may be considered. The two techniques are compared. It appears that the longterm results achieved in 7 cases with the onlay technique are aesthetically inferior to those of the 20 cases treated by osteotomy. Since the osteotomy also has technical advantages, it should also be preferred in cases of marked hypoplasia, if need be in combination with onlays.

Secondary post-traumatic periorbital surgery. Incidence and results

Over a 6 year period 20 patients presented for secondary corrections of the periorbital region after trauma. Corrections after isolated fracture of the zygoma were necessary in 6 cases, mainly comprising re-osteotomies and contour corrections. A tertiary correction was needed only once (17%). Secondary treatment was indicated in 6 patients after fracture of the midface, necessitating mainly re-osteotomies of the zygoma, corrections of the nose and canthopexies. Tertiary corrections were performed in 3 cases (50%). In 8 patients the results of treatment of fronto-orbito-nasal fractures required further improvement. Again, osteotomies of the zygoma, corrections of the nose as well as corrections of scars and bony contours were often indicated. Four cases (50%) needed tertiary surgery. It is concluded that the more serious the primary trauma the greater the necessity for further secondary surgery. Independently of the kind of primary trauma the indication for secondary treatment was, in most cases, aesthetic. Not only was the number of re-osteotomies and nasal corrections high, but also the number of tertiary revisions. While this might not be very surprising for the nose, it is for the zygoma and proves the difficulties which arise for perfect positioning when there are no clear landmarks. Forty percent of all patients underwent tertiary and one patient needs a quaternary correction.

Posttraumatic enophthalmos and diplopia

Malposition of the globe and failure to fuse visual images are late-developing complications of orbital injury. This article reviews the causes of specific sequelae, such as enophthalmos, hypophthalmos, and diplopia, and describes a procedure of strategic implantation of autogenous bone grafts to correct the condition(s). Using quantifiable methods of assessing globe position and motility, the authors demonstrate improvement in 18 of 19 patients. Vision is reported unchanged or improved in 13 sighted patients. Several cases are presented with analyses of preoperative and postoperative photographs. Indications, contraindications, advantages, and disadvantages of the surgical procedure are described and compared to others.

Coral, a new biomedical material. Experimental and first clinical investigations on Madreporaria

The coral or Madreporaria skeleton is morphologically and chemically very close to mineral bone. In 1979 we began to experiment with the implantation of selected pieces of coral in the cranial or facial bones of dogs, pigs and monkeys. With the wide porous varieties we obtained a true reossification. With the other varieties we had a very stable implant and very good tolerance. For the past three years we have used Madreporaria in human surgery. The cases included the stabilization of facial osteotomies, bone apposition near the pyriform aperture, and the treatment of periodontal lesions.