Management of displaced lateral orbital wall fractures associated with visual and ocular motility disturbances

Superior Orbital Fissure Syndrome in Lateral Orbital Wall Fracture: Management and Classification Update

The superior orbital fissure syndrome (SOFS) is an uncommon complication rarely occurring in association with craniofacial trauma. Work-up of a patient injured by a traumatic right orbitozygomatic complex fracture and SOFS is presented. Accurate computed tomography scan and three-dimensional reconstruction showed a medial displacement of the lateral orbital wall, compressing the right superior orbital fissure (SOF), without intraorbital bone fragment displacement or hemorrhage. Imaging also revealed a frontosphenotemporal fracture, according to Pellerin et al, that is, frequently associated with visual impairment. Our primary choice of therapy was a corticosteroid treatment in association with an early surgical approach. It consisted in en bloc reduction and osteosynthesis of the fracture through a bicoronal approach, recovering SOF size. A prompt and almost complete recovery of the abducens movement, without diplopia, was achieved in 1 week. The authors discuss indications and management of SOFS. The presence of fractures should urgently lead to surgery. We deny waiting for a medical treatment result, while preferring the prompt reduction of the fractures and extrication of the soft tissues. The main focus of this study is on patient's anatomical feature and fracture patterns.

Navigational area of the cranio-orbital foramen and its significance in orbital surgery

The cranio-orbital foramen (COF) is located on the lateral wall of the orbit. It is a potential source of hemorrhage during deep lateral orbital dissection, since it functions as an anastomosis between the lacrimal artery and the middle meningeal artery. The aim of this study was to guide and facilitate the surgical procedures in the orbit, so as to determine a navigational area and the precise location of the COF and to standardize certain anatomical marks. The navigational area of the COF and topographical features were studied in 75 craniums with presented COF. 33 bilateral main COFs, 41 (18 on the right, 23 on the left) unilateral main COFs at the main cranium and 19 accessory COFs were studied for their navigational features on the orbit. The distances between the COF and the fronto-zygomatic suture, supraorbital notch, lateral angle of the superior orbital fissure (SOF) and Whitnall's tubercle were measured. The mean distance of the COF from the fronto-zygomatic suture, supraorbital notch, lateral angle of the SOF and Whitnall's tubercle was 26.3, 37.3, 92 and 27.1 mm, respectively. For the navigational area signs of the COF, areas of the orbit that form the transversal and vertical lines are generated on the reference points. Whilst the upper outer area of the orbit contains a potential bleeding risk, the bottom section of the outer column is identified as safe for the surgical operations of the lateral orbital wall. The fronto-zygomatic suture and Whitnall's tubercle are recommended as the most reliable navigational landmarks for identifying the COF. Hence, the transversal and vertical orientation of the COF should be mastered by the surgeons reconstructing the anterior base of the skull and the orbit.

Orbital Fracture: Significance of lateral wall

The lateral orbital wall is the strongest among other orbital walls. However, it is commonly fractured in the setting of severe facial trauma. The fracture usually occurs at the sphenozygomatic suture line. In general, patients with lateral wall fractures are commonly young male who may present with mid facial swelling and some degree of deformity. In some cases, lateral orbital wall fracture may be associated with visual loss or change in mental status due to associated intracranial injury. Imaging studies with computed tomography is important in the proper diagnosis and planning of the surgical intervention. Management of intracranial or eye injuries should be undertaken on emergent basis. Thereafter, significantly displaced lateral wall fractures need to be repaired on timely basis. Proper realignment of the plane of the lateral orbital wall at the sphenozygomatic suture along with the other complex articulations of the zygomatic bone is necessary for proper functional and aesthetic outcome.

Lateral rectus restriction secondary to traumatic orbital exostosis

Bony exostoses can occur at the site of a fracture but are rare in facial bones. We report a case of lateral rectus restriction secondary to a traumatic exostosis in the lateral orbital wall with resolution of diplopia after surgical removal of the lesion. Although orbital masses may cause extraocular muscle restriction, to our knowledge, restriction secondary to an exostosis has not been previously reported. A bony exostosis should therefore be included in the differential diagnosis of mechanical restriction of extraocular muscle movement, and surgical treatment is recommended in symptomatic patients.

Predictive value of computed tomography in visual outcome in indirect traumatic optic neuropathy complicated with periorbital facial bone fracture

The visual outcome of 39 patients who had unilateral indirect type traumatic optic neuropathy and periorbital facial bone fracture treated at the Chang Gung Memorial Hospital in Kaohsiung between June 1996 and June 2001 was retrospectively evaluated, based on the results of computed tomography studies that grouped the associated fractures as anterior orbital fracture, posterior orbital fracture, orbital blow-in or blow-out fracture. Pretreatment and posttreatment visual acuities were obtained from the medical records and measurements of visual improvement degree and percentage were calculated after converting the visual acuities into log of the minimum angle of resolution (log MAR) units. This study reveals that posterior orbital fracture is associated with a worse prognosis in visual outcome than anterior orbital fracture, with visual improvement degree and percentage being 0.86 +/- 0.17 log MAR and 34.2 +/- 1.7% versus 1.56 +/- 0.27 log MAR and 58.9 +/- 1.7%, respectively (P = 0.02 and 0.004). Blow-in fractures such as an impacted lateral orbital wall did not predict significant deterioration in visual outcome. In addition, orbital floor or medial wall blow-out fractures did not predict significant improvement in visual outcome.

Imaging of high-energy midfacial trauma: what the surgeon needs to know

Treatment goals in severe midfacial trauma are restoration of function and appearance. Restoration of function is directed at multiple organ systems, which support visual acuity, airway patency, mastication, lacrimation, smelling, tasting, hearing, and facial expression. Victims of blunt facial trauma expect to look the same after surgical treatment as before injury. Delicate soft tissues of the midface often make cosmetic reconstructive surgery technically challenging. Generally, clinical evaluation alone does not suffice to fully characterize facial fractures associated with extensive swelling, and the deeper midface is not accessible to physical examination. Properly performed computed tomography (CT) overcomes most limitations of presurgical examination. Thus, operative approaches and sequencing of surgical repair are guided by imaging information displayed by CT. Restoration of function and appearance relies on recreating normal maxillofacial skeletal anatomy, with particular attention to position of the malar eminences, mandibular condyles, vertical dimension and orbital morphology. Due to its pivotal role in surgical planning, CT scans obtained for the evaluation of severe midfacial trauma should be designed to easily depict the imaging information necessary for clinical decision making.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

1. Understand the facial skeletal buttress system; 2. Understand how the pattern of derangement of the buttress system determines the need for and choice of operative approach for repair of fractures in the middle third of the face; 3. Understand the role and importance of CT and CT reformations in the detection and classification of the pattern of buttress system derangement.

Orbital apex injury: trauma at the junction between the face and the cranium

Orbital apex injury is usually seen in multiply and severely injured patients who are subject to high-energy trauma. Orbital apex injury rarely occurs in isolation. By proximity, the face, the skull base, or their combination are the most likely regions to be injured in association with orbital apex trauma. The vast majority of these injuries occur as an extension of orbital, LeFort, naso-orbito-ethmoid, panfacial, sphenoid, or temporal bone fractures of the skull. Complex osseous anatomic structures with intimately related multiple neurovascular organs make injuries to the orbital apex diagnostically and therapeutically challenging. Often other facial fractures extend into the orbital apex, or the orbital apex is damaged in conjunction with fractures of the skull base. Therefore abnormal imaging findings within the orbital apex may be indicators of traumatic injury to the entire junctional zone of face and cranium. In this article, we will give an overview of normal CT anatomy, review clinical syndromes, which may indicate traumatic injury of the orbital apex and present an imaging strategy for evaluation of the orbital apex.

Clinical signs of orbital wall fractures as a function of anatomic location

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to see whether clinical signs of medial orbital wall fractures distinguished these fractures from fractures of the lateral orbital wall and the orbital floor.

STUDY DESIGN

The orbital fractures of 424 patients were analyzed. The patients were divided into 2 groups: (1) patients with orbital fractures with a medial orbital wall component and (2) patients with orbital fractures without a medial orbital wall component.

RESULTS

Orbital fractures with involvement of the medial orbital wall showed a significantly higher incidence (P =.001) of diplopia and exophthalmos (P =.039) than fractures without involvement of the medial wall.

CONCLUSION

Posttraumatic orbital clinical signs are associated with a higher incidence of medial orbital wall component fracture. Apparent lack of involvement of the medial orbital wall should not be an exclusion criterion for a surgical intervention when clinical orbital signs exist.