Factor Influencing Postoperative Enophthalmos After Reconstruction of Orbital Wall Fracture

To determine factors influencing postoperative enophthalmos after reconstruction of orbital wall fracture.

Data of consecutive patients who were diagnosed with unilateral medial or inferior orbital wall fracture from March 2013 to February 2020 were retrospectively reviewed. Forty-three patients were included in this study (24 with medial orbital wall fracture and 19 with inferior orbital wall fracture). Their medical records including Hertel exophthalmometry, preoperative computed tomography (CT) scan, and postoperative CT scan were reviewed. The degree of enophthalmos developed was calculated by measuring exophthalmos before surgery and at 6 months after surgery. Patients were classified into 2 groups depending on whether reduction was good after surgery or not. Data (eg, age, gender, onset, fracture size, and so on) were then compared between these 2 groups.

A total of 43 patients were included in the study. Their mean age was 40.1 years. There were 34 (79.1%) males. The mean onset from trauma to surgery was 8.1 days. Insufficient soft tissue reduction was found in 9 patients through postoperative CT scan. Preoperative mean enophthalmos was - 1.70 mm. Postoperative mean enophthalmos was -0.45 mm after 6 months. The mean fracture size was 213.74 mm2. There was no statistically significant difference in enophthalmos at 6 months after surgery regardless whether the reduction was good or not. Enophthalmos at 6 months after surgery was associated with preoperative fracture size and onset.

Postoperative enophthalmos development might be associated with preoperative fracture size and onset. Delayed operation in case of large orbital wall fracture might lead to undesired result. Thus, surgeons should keep that in mind.