[Children orbital floor fracture: retrospective study, about 34 cases]

Orbital fractures represent 30 % of children facial fractures. Nausea and vomiting are more predictive of entrapment than local trauma stigmatisms. Entrapment and diplopia are more frequent in adults. Delay for surgery is unclear in literature varying from 6 hours to days. The aim of this study is to summarise the aspects of orbital floor fractures in children with regard to clinical and radiological presentation, management, and outcomes.

We conducted a retrospective study including 34 children presenting isolated orbital floor fracture. Clinical, radiological, ophthalmological, surgical data and outcomes were analyzed.

Mean age was 9.4 years. In 15% of cases, no local stigmatism of trauma was present. Entrapment fracture was the most frequent, with 81% of fat or muscles entrapment. In all, 27% of the patient had residual diplopia. Residual diplopia developed after trap-door fracture with muscle entrapment and a more than 24 hours delay for surgery.

Trap-door fracture is frequent in childhood population. Clinical diagnosis can be difficult. However, surgical treatment should be considered before 24 hours to avoid complication as residual diplopia.