Antral Wall Approach for Reconstruction of Orbital Floor Fractures Using Anterior Maxillary Sinus Bone Grafts

Isolated orbital wall fractures account for 4% to 16% of all facial fractures. Even a modest change in the position of the bony walls can have a significant impact on orbital volume and globe position. Alloplastic materials or autogenous bone grafts such as the antral maxillary wall can be used to reconstruct small- to medium-size orbital fractures. The main advantage of an antral wall graft is the intraoral approach with minimal morbidity. Nine patients underwent repair of orbital floor fractures using the extraoral and the intraoral antral wall approach. The patients underwent preoperative computed tomography imaging and a minimum of 1 year follow-up. The size of the defects ranged from 0.5 to 1.4 cm. Two patients experienced minor immediate postoperative complications; infraorbital hypoesthesia. On follow-ups, none of our patients suffered from ocular movement restrictions or complications regarding the maxillary antral wall approach. The use of harvested bone grafts from the anterolateral wall of the maxillary sinus is a promising approach for the reconstruction of small- to mid-size orbital floor defects with minimal complications and excellent cosmetic and functional results.