Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 15, 2026

Three-Dimensional Reconstruction of Orbital Fractures
08:18

Three-Dimensional Reconstruction of Orbital Fractures

Published on: May 16, 2025

743

Pediatric growing orbital roof fracture with ptosis: a case report

Valencia H X Foo1, Shirley P Ma2, Sunny Shen1

  • 1Department of Oculoplastic Surgery, Singapore National Eye Centre, Singapore, Singapore.

Orbit (Amsterdam, Netherlands)
|February 17, 2026
PubMed

Insights

Pediatric orbital roof fractures, even minor ones, can rarely progress to growing skull fractures. This case shows a child developing an orbital meningoencephalocele and ptosis months after initial trauma.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Traumatology
  • Neurosurgery
  • Ophthalmology

Background:

  • Most pediatric skull fractures are minimally displaced and managed conservatively.
  • Growing skull fractures (GSF) are rare but serious complications, potentially causing significant sequelae.
  • Orbital roof fractures, even minor ones, require careful monitoring due to potential for delayed complications.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To report a case of a pediatric orbital roof fracture progressing to a growing skull fracture with orbital meningoencephalocele.
  • To emphasize the importance of vigilant follow-up for seemingly minor pediatric orbital fractures.

Main Methods:

  • Case report of a 6-year-old boy with initial right orbital roof "blow-up" fracture and traumatic ptosis.
  • Clinical observation detailing the progression of the fracture and development of complications over seven months.
  • Review of literature on growing skull fractures and orbital meningoencephaloceles in pediatric head trauma.

Main Results:

  • Initial minimally displaced orbital roof fracture progressed to a growing orbital roof fracture.
  • Development of an orbital meningoencephalocele and persistent ptosis occurred seven months post-injury.
  • The case illustrates a rare but severe complication following minor head trauma.

Conclusions:

  • Early multidisciplinary evaluation and long-term follow-up are crucial for pediatric orbital roof fractures.
  • Clinicians must be aware of the potential for delayed complications like growing skull fractures and orbital meningoencephaloceles.
  • Vigilance is necessary even when initial pediatric head trauma appears minor.

Keywords:
MeningoencephalocelePediatric orbital fracturegrowing skull fractureorbital roof fracturetraumatic ptosis

More Related Videos

Surgical Correction for Pediatric Epiblepharon and Trichiasis03:59

Surgical Correction for Pediatric Epiblepharon and Trichiasis

Published on: July 8, 2025

636
Coronoid-Temporalis Pedicled Flap for Orbital Floor Defect Reconstruction06:32

Coronoid-Temporalis Pedicled Flap for Orbital Floor Defect Reconstruction

Published on: December 5, 2025

723

Related Concept Videos

Bone Structure01:55

Bone Structure

Within the skeletal system, the structure of a bone, or osseous tissue, can be exemplified in a long bone, like the femur, where there are two types of osseous tissue: cortical and cancellous.
Bone Remodeling01:40

Bone Remodeling

Bone remodeling is a continuous and balanced process of bone resorption by osteoclasts and bone formation by osteoblasts. In adults, it helps maintain bone mass and calcium homeostasis. While mechanical stress can stimulate turnover as part of the normal maintenance and reparative process, several hormones also regulate bone remodeling.
Growth of Cartilage and Bone Tissue01:27

Growth of Cartilage and Bone Tissue

Chondrocytes form a temporary cartilaginous model by dividing and secreting a thick gel-like extracellular matrix. Once the chondrocytes undergo programmed cell death, osteoblasts enter the site of the cartilaginous model. The process of replacing the temporary cartilaginous model with bone in an ordered manner is called endochondral ossification. In endochondral ossification, not all of the cartilage is replaced by bone tissue. Some cartilage that performs a protective and supportive function...
Fractures: Bone Repair01:27

Fractures: Bone Repair

Treatment for a fracture is based on the type of break, the bone affected, and the patient's age.
Minor fractures with no bone displacement are treated by immobilizing the fractured bone using a cast or splint. However, in the case of fractures with displaced bones, the broken bones are repositioned before immobilization to ensure successful healing without deformation and loss of function. The realignment of fractured bone ends is performed through a process called reduction. If the procedure...
Bone Disorders01:29

Bone Disorders

Aging and its effect on bone remodeling is the most common cause of bone disorders. In young and healthy people, bone deposition and resorption happen at an equal rate to maintain optimal bone health.
Bone deposition is also affected by the levels of sex hormones like estrogen and testosterone that promote osteoblast activity and bone matrix synthesis. When the level of these hormones decreases due to aging, it causes a reduction in bone deposition. As a result, bone resorption by osteoclasts...
Changes in the Appendicular Skeleton with Age01:09

Changes in the Appendicular Skeleton with Age

The upper and lower limb initially develops as a small bulge called a limb bud, which appears on the lateral side of the early embryo. The upper limb bud appears near the end of the fourth week of development, with the lower limb bud appearing shortly after.
Initially, the limb buds consist of a core of mesenchyme covered by a layer of ectoderm. The ectoderm at the end of the limb bud thickens to form a narrow crest called the apical ectodermal ridge. This ridge stimulates the underlying...