Assessment of indications and clinical outcome for the endoscopy-assisted combined subciliary/transantral approach in treatment of complex orbital floor fractures.

BACKGROUND: The treatment of complex orbital floor fractures with extensive orbital prolapse remains a surgical challenge in craniomaxillofacial traumatology and is still controversially discussed. Reduction of orbital tissue via a transcutaneous or transconjunctival approach alone can be very difficult and lead to unsatisfying results.

METHODS: Over a 3-year-period, we enrolled 13 patients who underwent endoscopy-assisted reconstruction of isolated orbital floor fractures via a combined subciliary and transantral approach. Patient data, imaging and ophthalmologic examination were reviewed prospectively.

RESULTS: Ten patients underwent primary surgical treatment, 3 patients had secondary surgical treatment because of unsatisfactory results of primary surgical intervention. All patients had an uneventful postoperative course without ophthalmologic deterioration, no further surgical procedures were necessary.

CONCLUSIONS: The additional use of an endoscopy-assisted transantral approach provides a reliable treatment modality in selected cases. To our knowledge, this is the only study of patients treated with a combined subciliary and transantral approach. Special emphasis was given to postoperative functional results, a short algorithm for use of an additional transantral endoscopy-assisted approach is presented.