Contralateral coronoid process bone grafts for orbital floor reconstruction: an anatomic and clinical study

Area of Science:

• Craniomaxillofacial surgery
• Orthopedic surgery
• Plastic surgery

Background:

• Orbital floor reconstruction is crucial for restoring facial anatomy and function.
• Identifying suitable autologous bone grafts is essential for successful orbital floor repair.
• The mandibular coronoid process presents a potential donor site for orbital floor reconstruction.

Observation:

• Anatomical comparison of 24 human skulls revealed a close contour and dimensional match between the orbital floor and the contralateral mandibular coronoid process.
• Clinical application in eight patients with orbital floor fractures demonstrated the feasibility of using the coronoid process as a graft.
• Grafts required minimal trimming, with no need for recontouring the lateral cortical surface.

Findings:

• The coronoid process serves as an excellent donor graft for orbital floor reconstruction.
• Postoperative outcomes in eight patients showed correct orbital floor contour without diplopia, enophthalmia, muscle entrapment, or infection.
• Transient trismus (1-2 weeks) was the only noted complication.

Implications:

• The mandibular coronoid process offers a readily available and anatomically suitable option for orbital floor reconstruction.
• This technique can improve functional and aesthetic outcomes for patients with orbital floor defects.
• Further research can explore long-term outcomes and refine surgical techniques for coronoid process grafting.