Early Hypoglobus in Orbital Floor Reconstruction With Resorbable Implants

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Plastic Surgery
• Biomaterials Science

Background:

• Resorbable implants are utilized in orbital wall reconstruction for facial bone surgery.
• Advantages include minimal foreign body reaction and adjustability.
• Implants are intended to support healing tissues for 1-2 years.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the incidence and correlation of early hypoglobus after orbital floor reconstruction using resorbable implants.
• To assess the impact of bony defect size on implant performance and patient outcomes.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective study of 39 patients with unilateral orbital floor fractures (Jan 2014 - Aug 2019).
• Orbital floor reconstruction performed using resorbable implants via transconjunctival approach.
• Hypoglobus assessed using exophthalmometer measurements and CT scans for implant sagging.

Main Results:

• Most patients experienced hypoglobus within 3-4 months post-surgery.
• A positive correlation was observed between bony defect size and exophthalmometer measurements/implant sagging.

Conclusions:

• Orbital floors reconstructed with resorbable implants may gradually lose load-bearing capacity.
• Caution is advised for resorbable implants in large bony defects due to potential for hypoglobus.