Anatomic Factors Predicting Postoperative Strabismus in Orbital Wall Fracture Repair

This study is aimed to determine the relationship between orbital fracture sites in each CT scan view and postoperative diplopia. Data for 141 patients of orbital wall fracture were analyzed retrospectively. One group of examiners reviewed sagittal, coronal and axial CT scans. Descriptive statistical analysis was used to assess each fracture area and its potential relationship with the occurrence of postoperative diplopia. Among the three anatomical views, sagittal sections were significantly associated with post-operative diplopia (PD) (p = 0.044). For orbital wall fractures in a single location, C1 (p = 0.015), A1 (p = 0.004) and S3 (p = 0.006) fractures were significantly related to PD. Orbital wall fractures found in more than one location resulted in a higher probability of PD in all sections:, C1 + C2 group (p = 0.010), C1 + C2 + C3 group (p = 0.005), A1 + A2 group (p = 0.034), A3 + A1 group (p = 0.005), S1 + S2 group (p < 0.001), S2 + S3 group (p = 0.006) and S1 + S2 + S3 group (p < 0.001). For combinations of two or three sections, we found that only fractures involving both coronal and sagittal sections led to a significantly increased risk of PD (p = 0.031). PD is the main posttreatment complication of orbital bone fracture reduction. In addition to the known myogenic cause (failure to relieve entrapment) of diplopia, both trauma and surgical manipulation can compromise ocular motor nerve function and possibly result in the development of neurogenic causes of diplopia. Careful assessment of patient symptoms (whether preoperative diplopia is present), and the location of orbital fractures (and the influence of related musculature, fat, and nerves) on CT scans are strongly related to surgical success.