Combined inferior and medial surgical approaches and overlapping thin implants for orbital floor and medial wall fractures.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the clinical outcome of combined orbital floor and medial wall fracture repair using overlapping thin implants.

METHODS

A retrospective chart review was conducted on 19 fracture repairs performed by one surgeon using thin overlapping implants inserted through transcaruncular and inferior fornix incisions.

RESULTS

Nineteen combined medial wall and floor fractures were repaired in 18 patients (14 male, 4 female). The median age was 37 years (range, 13-60 years). The median trauma-to-surgery interval was 9 days (range, 1 day to 6 years). Two overlapped implants (0.2-0.4 mm) were used in 12 fracture repairs, and 3 overlapped implants (0.2-0.3 mm) were used in 7 fracture repairs. Materials included prepunched nylon foil in 18 fractures and, in one fracture, high-density polyethylene. Follow-up time ranged from 1 month to 53 months (median, 7 months). No complications occurred during the postoperative follow-up period. Clinically significant enophthalmos was not observed after treatment.

CONCLUSION

The repair of combined orbital floor and medial wall fractures using thin overlapping implants inserted through transcaruncular and inferior transconjunctival incisions is a safe, effective, and cosmetically sensitive surgical technique.