Clinical features and treatment of pediatric orbit fractures

To describe a series of orbital fractures and associated ophthalmic and craniofacial injuries in the pediatric population.

A retrospective case series of 312 pediatric patients over a 9-year period (2002-2011) with orbit fractures diagnosed by CT.

Five hundred ninety-one fractures in 312 patients were evaluated. There were 192 boys (62%) and 120 girls (38%) with an average age of 7.3 years (range 4 months to 16 years). Orbit fractures associated with other craniofacial fractures were more common (62%) than isolated orbit fractures (internal fractures and fractures involving the orbital rim but without extension beyond the orbit) (38%). Roof and medial wall fractures were most common (30% and 28%, respectively), followed by orbital floor (24%) and lateral wall (18%) fractures. Orbital roof fractures are the most common fracture in patients <8 years old, whereas orbital floor fractures are the most common fracture in patients older than 8 years. Eighty-seven patients (28%) underwent surgical repair. There is an increasing incidence of surgery in older patients (p = 0.02). Associated neurologic injuries were more common (23%) than associated ophthalmic injuries (20%).

Pediatric orbit fracture patterns are dictated by the age of the patient with respect to their craniofacial morphology and mechanism of injury. Orbital roof fractures are more likely to occur in younger patients and not require surgery, whereas orbital floor fractures are more common in older patients and are more likely to require surgery.