Complex orbital fracture repair using rigid fixation of the internal orbital skeleton

Large orbital fractures involving more than one orbital wall are frequently associated with enophthalmos and vertical globe dystopia. The authors repaired 22 orbits in 20 patients using the technique of rigid fixation of the internal orbital skeleton. Eleven orbits were reconstructed with titanium or vitallium implants that were custom-shaped to span the bony defect and fixed to the orbital rim. Seven orbits were reconstructed with bone grafts rigidly supported by a miniplate, and, in four cases, direct lag screw support of bone grafts was used. The intraoperative goal was to restore the native orbital anatomy and volume. Autologous calvarial bone grafts were used to supplement the repair to achieve the desired volumetric effect and to cover additional wall defects. A reoperation for additional orbital augmentation was needed in one enophthalmic and one anophthalmic orbit. There were no cases of overcorrection, migration, infection, or extraocular muscle entrapment. In complex orbital fractures, the technique of rigid internal orbital fixation appears to yield a stable and predictable result with the prevention of postoperative globe malposition.