Ophthalmic injuries in orbito-zygomatic fractures

To assess the frequency and severity of ophthalmic injuries in patients with orbito-zygomatic fractures.

A case series.

Oral and Maxillofacial Department, KEMU/Mayo Hospital Lahore, from January 2009 to December 2011.

Patients with orbito-zygomatic fractures were divided into three groups. Group-1 patients had fracture of floor/medial wall of the orbit (orbital-blow out fracture). Group-2 had comminuted orbito-zygomatic fractures. Group-3 had simple zygomatic bone fractures. Frequency and types of ocular injuries were determined on each group.

There were 296 (260 male, 36 female) patients with mean age of 31.7 years. Group-1 (n = 20) had 28 ocular findings in 12 (60%) patients including diplopia (n = 10, 36%), enophthalmos (n = 6, 14%), and hyphema, vitreous hemorrhage, retinal hemorrhage, choroidal rupture, traumatic mydriasis, and commotio retinae in 2 cases, 7% each. In Group-2 (n = 106), 44 ocular findings were identified in 30 (28%) patients including diplopia (n = 10, 23%), enophthalmos (n = 4, 9%), commotio retinae (n = 10, 23%), reduced visual acuity (n = 6, 14%), retinal hemorrhage (n = 4, 9%) and corneal laceration, corneal abrasion, retinal detachment, traumatic mydriasis, and canthal laceration in 2 cases, 4.5%. In Group-3 (n = 170), 22 ocular findings were seen in 16 (9%) patients included diplopia (n = 10, 45%), enophthalmos (n = 4, 18%), and retinal tear, hyphema, angle recession, and traumatic mydriasis in 2 cases, (9%) each.

Ophthalmic injuries are a common complication of orbitozygomatic fractures occurring in about 20% of patients in this study, most frequent in the orbital blow fractures subgroup. Ophthalmology consultation is recommended for patients presenting with midface fractures.