[Secondary reconstruction of posttraumatic orbital deformities with canthus dislocation]

To explore the secondary surgical reconstruction for orbital bone deformities accompanied with canthus dislocation after trauma.

From June 1998 to July 2007, 37 patients with secondary orbital bone fracture deformity accompanied with medial or lateral canthal ligament dislocation posttraumatically were treated, among whom there were 22 males and 15 females, aged 13-46 years old (21 on average). There were 29 cases of traffic accident, 6 of boxing injury and 2 of beating injury by sticks. The latest reconstruction was performed on these 37 cases during 3 months to 8 years after injuries. There were 11 cases of orbital maxillary zygoma (OMZ) fracture, 15 of naso-orbito-ethmoid (NOE) fracture, 8 of OMZ and NOE fracture and 3 of frontal fracture. There were 31 patients who were reconstructed for the first time and 6 for the second time. Typical bicoronal and subciliary incisions and intra-oral approach were employed to expose all the fractured sites. According to the fractured position and the degree of deformity and dislocation, the orbito-zygomatic fracture was repositioned after osteotomy and rigid fixation, or the healed fragments were trimmed with a burr and the depressed fragments were filled with autogenous bone such as ilium, cranial outer table or Medpor in order to reconstruct orbital wall framework; the orbital walls were repaired to correct the enophthalmos with autogenous bone or Medpor after the herniated orbital contents were released. The medial canthal ligament was anchored superior-posteriorly to the lacrimal fossa with transnasal wires fixation or fixed with titanium miniplates and nails.

The 36 patients' incisions obtained healing by first intention after the operation, and 1 case failed because of wound infection from maxillary sinusitis. There were 24 patients who were cured successfully with facial appearance and function improved significantly. During the follow-up for 3-6 months, no complication was found such as dislocation of the implant, rejection and infection. Two patients still showed slight enophthalmos while 3 patients with canthus dislocation regained improved appearances but not satisfactory. At 6 months after operation, the CT scan conducted in 3 patients with autogenous bone and Medpor grafting showed all fractures were fixed rigidly.

Surgical reduction combined with bone grafting is a satisfactory method for the correction of secondary orbital bone deformity, and the repair of canthus dislocation and correction of enophthalmos should be considered at the same time. An ideal result could be achieved only through all-round consideration and comprehensive treatment.