Clinical signs of orbital wall fractures as a function of anatomic location.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to see whether clinical signs of medial orbital wall fractures distinguished these fractures from fractures of the lateral orbital wall and the orbital floor.

STUDY

DESIGN

The orbital fractures of 424 patients were analyzed. The patients were divided into 2 groups: (1) patients with orbital fractures with a medial orbital wall component and (2) patients with orbital fractures without a medial orbital wall component.

RESULTS

Orbital fractures with involvement of the medial orbital wall showed a significantly higher incidence (P =.001) of diplopia and exophthalmos (P =.039) than fractures without involvement of the medial wall.

CONCLUSION

Posttraumatic orbital clinical signs are associated with a higher incidence of medial orbital wall component fracture. Apparent lack of involvement of the medial orbital wall should not be an exclusion criterion for a surgical intervention when clinical orbital signs exist.