Comparison of surgical outcomes of large orbital fractures reconstructed with porous polyethylene channel and porous polyethylene titan barrier implants.

PURPOSE: To compare the postoperative outcomes of large orbital fractures repaired with porous polyethylene (PP) channel implants (PPCIs) and PP titan barrier implants (PPTBs).

METHODS

Medical records of 42 patients who underwent surgical reconstruction for a large orbital fracture with either PPCI or PPTB were reviewed retrospectively. The degree of diplopia, determined with a binocular single vision test, and enophthalmos, measured by a Hertel exophthalmometer, was compared between 2 implant groups. Orbital volumes were calculated using CT scans and the measuring tool.

RESULTS

Of the 42 patients examined, 16 received PPCI and 26 received PPTB. No significant difference in the degree of diplopia was observed between the 2 implant groups before surgery, and 1 and 3 months after surgery (p = 0.256, 0.408, and 0.432, respectively). Preoperative average enophthalmos measuring 1.28 mm and 1.04 mm was successfully corrected to 0.19 mm and 0.25 mm 3 months after reconstruction with PPCI and PPTB, respectively. The fractured orbit volumes and nonfractured contralateral orbit volumes were 24.96 ± 2.32 cm3 and 23.18 ± 1.733 cm in the PPCI group, and 26.80 ± 2.10 cm3 and 24.13 ± 2.28 cm3 in the PPTB group, respectively. After surgery, the fractured orbit volumes significantly decreased to 23.39 ± 2.82 cm3 in the PPCI group and to 23.53 ± 1.74 cm3 in the PPTB group; these values were not significantly different from that of the nonfractured orbit (p = 0.681 for PPCI and 0.204 for PPTB).

CONCLUSIONS

Porous polyethylene channel implant and PPTB are both effective implant materials for the repair of large orbital fractures; however, PPTB has the additional benefit of not requiring screw fixation.