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Updated: Aug 11, 2026

Three-Dimensional Reconstruction of Orbital Fractures
Published on: May 16, 2025
Orbital stress analysis--Part I: Simulation of orbital deformation following blunt injury by finite element analysis
Jehad Al-Sukhun1, Risto Kontio, Christian Lindqvist
1Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Kasarmikatu 11-13, PO Box 263, 00029 HUS, Helsinki, Finland. jalsukhun@hotmail.com
Purpose:
The purpose of this study was to develop a 3-dimensional finite element model (FEM) of the human orbit, housing the globe, to predict orbital deformation in subjects following a blunt injury.
Materials And Methods:
A FEM of the human orbit including the eye, fatty tissues, and extraocular muscles was constructed. Simulations were performed with a computer using the finite element software NISA (EMRC, Troy, MI). The orbit was subjected to a blunt injury of a 0.5 kg missile with 30 m/s velocity. The FEM was then used to predict principal and shear stresses/strains at each node position.
Results:
Two types of orbital deformation were predicted during different impact simulations: a) horizontal distortion and b) rotational distortion. Stress values ranged from 112.12 to 262.3 MPa for the maximum principal stress, from -226.8 to -552.1 MPa for the minimum principal stress, and from 111.3 to 343.3 MPa for the maximum shear stress.
Conclusion:
This is the first finite element study that demonstrates different and concurrent patterns of orbital deformation in subjects following a blunt injury. FEM is a powerful and invaluable tool to study the multifaceted phenomenon of orbital deformation.
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