Rehabilitation of an Orbital Defect: A Simplified Technique

Loss of tissue, whether congenital or traumatic or resulting from malignancy or radical surgery, is accompanied by esthetic and psychologic effects. This loss is more pronounced when the affected part is the eye and all orbital contents, resulting in gross mutilation. Success in maxillofacial prosthetics depends on the full cognizance of the principles that underlie facial harmony, color matching, anchorage and retention, weight bearing and leverage, durability and strength of materials used, tissue compatibility and tolerance. The restoration of orbital defects presents a challenge in maxillofacial prosthetics. Many variations exist in techniques and materials for fabricating orbital prostheses. Careful positioning of the ocular portion of the orbital prosthesis is one of the requirements for a successful esthetic result. A change of this position, which may occur during fabrication or may be due to distortion of the prosthetic housing or loss of retention of the prosthesis, may result in an unsatisfactory appearance. This article presents a simplified technique for fabricating an orbital prosthesis.