Evaluation of orbital volume in unilateral orbital fracture using computed tomography

Our study was an observational and evolutional to analyze the significance of orbital volume calculation in predicting the probability or tendency of developing late enopthalmous on patients with unilateral orbital fracture with or without associated midface injury reported to our hospital.

The subjects in our study included fifteen patients between18 and 60years. They were treated surgically and conservatively. Patients were exposed to series of examination from the day of injury or reporting for a consecutive period of up to six months following injury. CT was taken prior to treatment following management to evaluate the volume change in orbit. Its correlation and significance to treatment outcome were analyzed using MIMICS software by Materialise by comparing injured orbit to opposite side normal eye.

Conclusive of clinical examination and summary of statistical analysis patients were categorized into three groups: Low (with volume change of less than 2%), Medium (volume change between 2 to 20%) and High (volume change more than 20%) by comparing fractured orbit to uninjured orbit and a statistically significant mean value of 27.7 ± 2.6 cu. mm for fractures eye and 25.9 ± 2.6 cu. mm for normal eye was found (P ≤ 0.05).

Orbital volume can be considered as useful criteria in evaluation of patients with orbital fracture. Evaluation and follow up in correlation with resultant volume assessment provide a better indicator for assessment of prognosis and enopthalmous. Unlike other methods for volume assessment MIMICS software by Materialise provide a better method and it can be incorporated to working station in hospital. Every CT assessment in orbital trauma should include orbital volume as a parameter and this software is easy and user-friendly software that does not require its technical knowledge for application.