[Using porous polyethylene sheets in late surgical intervention for orbital blowout fractures].

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the efficacy of using porous polyethylene sheets as orbital implants in late surgical intervention for orbital blowout fractures (BOF).

METHODS

CT scan and 3-D reconstruction were used for the diagnosis of BOF. Hertel exophthalmometer was used for the measurement of enophthalmos. Lancaster test was used for examination of diplopia. Porous polyethylene sheets were used for the repair of orbital defects and the correction of orbital volume expansion on 42 patients with enophthalmos of BOF. The time of surgeries perform was from one month to two years post-injury, and the average duration was six months. The mean follow up time was 7 months.

RESULTS

Enophthalmos of BOF was corrected in 32 of 42 cases and improved in the rest 10 patients. Twenty-five of 42 patients had diplopia preoperatively. The diplopia disappeared in 5 patients and improved in 10 patients postoperatively. The rest 10 patients had no significant change. Preoperatively 19 of 42 patients had restriction of ductions. Postoperatively, the limited ductions were recovered in 7 cases, improved in 4 cases and no change in 8 cases. No patient had infection and dislocation of implants.

CONCLUSIONS

Porous polyethylene sheets are safe and effective when used for orbital reconstruction.