Prediction of Post-Traumatic Enophthalmos Based on Orbital Volume Measurements: A Systematic Review

Enophthalmos greater than 2 mm should be considered clinically relevant and can be responsible for esthetic and functional morbidity. The difficulty has always been the best method to use to accurately determine when the orbital wall displacement will lead to clinically relevant enophthalmos. None of the currently used techniques is able to accurately predict for post-traumatic enophthalmos (PE). The aim of the present study was to systematically review the use of orbital volumetric tools in the prediction of PE after orbital fracture.

The terms searched in each database were "(orbital volumetry) and enophthalmos," "volumetry and enophthalmos," "volume and enophthalmos," and "volumetric and enophthalmos." The relationship between PE and the orbital volume (OV) was assessed.

The initial search yielded 346 results. Of the 346 studies, 14 were included and analyzed. Every study reported a different numerical relationship between the OV and PE, with a mean enophthalmos of 0.80 mm after a 1-cm³ increase in the OV.

The present review found that most studies concluded that a direct relationship exists between the OV and PE and defined the degree of PE in relation to the OV expansion. Enophthalmos assessment using radiologic evaluation provides increased accuracy and reproducibility compared with clinical measurement using an exophthalmometer. It has been notoriously difficult to determine when orbital wall displacement will lead to clinically relevant enophthalmos. Measurement of the OV could have a role in the decision for surgical or conservative treatment.