Orbital floor fractures in Taiwan: A 10-year nationwide population-based study

To characterize the epidemiology, associated complications, and risk factors of orbital floor fractures in a nationwide longitudinal health insurance database.

Claims data from a million randomly selected registered residents from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database were analyzed between 2001 and 2011 as part of a retrospective cohort review. Patients were identified using the International Classification of Disease-9 diagnosis codes for orbital floor fracture (closed: 802.6; open: 802.7). The cases were categorized as surgical or nonsurgical based on the procedure codes and compared statistically.

From 2001 to 2011, 663 patients were diagnosed with orbital floor fractures out of a total population at risk of 9,836,431 person-years (average incidence: 6.78 persons/100,000/year) with overall increasing incidence. Surgical treatments were performed in 213 (32%) patients. Patients who received surgical treatment were younger than those who did not (mean age 25.3 ± 13.6 years vs. 34.2 ± 18.6 years, P < 0.001). The diagnosis with diplopia was a significantly associated factor for surgical treatment (2.2% in nonsurgery group vs. 6.6% in surgery group, P = 0.007). Male gender (adjusted hazard ratios [aHR] = 2.1, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.79-2.49) and low monthly income (aHR = 1.76, 95% CI: 1.16-2.67) were the risk factors for orbital floor fracture.

The incidence of orbital floor fractures increased in the Taiwanese population between 2001 and 2011. Men and low income patients were at increased risk of orbital floor fracture. More research is necessary to clarify what factors are driving the escalating incidence of orbital fractures in this national population.