Traumatic superior orbital fissure syndrome: current management

Traumatic superior orbital fissure syndrome is an uncommon complication of craniomaxillofacial trauma with an incidence of less than 1%. The syndrome is characterized by ophthalmoplegia, ptosis, proptosis of eye, dilation and fixation of the pupil, and anesthesia of the upper eyelid and forehead. This article describes a detailed anatomy of the superior orbital fissure as it related to pathophysiology and clinical findings. Etiology and diagnosis are established after detailed physical and radiographic examination. On the basis of our clinical experience in the management of superior orbital fissure syndrome and from the data reported previously in the literature, an algorithm for treatment of traumatic superior orbital fissure syndrome including use of steroid, surgical decompression of superior orbital fissure, and reduction of concomitant facial fracture is presented and its rationale discussed.