Predictors of Postoperative Diplopia following Orbital Fracture Repair in Adults.

BACKGROUND

Postoperative diplopia is reported in up to 52% of orbital bone fracture (OBF) repair. Evidence on these risk factors is based on low-quality data, single-institution studies, and small sample sizes. Our study is the largest and first multicenter study to determine the predictors of postoperative diplopia following OBF repair.

METHODS

The authors conducted a retrospective review of patients who underwent OBF repair at 2 centers from 2015 to 2019. The authors' primary outcome was the incidence or persistence of postoperative diplopia at least 2 weeks after OBF repair. Descriptive statistics were calculated. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to determine significant predictors of postoperative diplopia.

RESULTS

Of 254 patients, the median age was 36.1 years (interquartile range, 27.8 to 50.7 years), and the median follow-up was 79.5 days (interquartile range, 40.3 to 157.3 days). The most common postoperative ocular symptom was diplopia (51 of 254 [20.1%]). Patients who had preoperative limited ocular motility or enophthalmos had greater odds of developing postoperative diplopia, compared with patients who did not have these preoperative symptoms (adjusted ORs, 2.33 [95% CI, 1.03 to 5.24] and 2.35 [95% CI, 1.06 to 5.24], respectively). Patients who had combined orbital floor and medial wall and moderate OBF (>2-cm 2 defect or >3-mm displacement) on preoperative computed tomographic scan had greater odds (adjusted ORs, 2.16 [95% CI, 1.04 to 4.46] and 3.77 [95% CI, 1.44 to 9.83], respectively) of developing postoperative diplopia, compared with patients without these preoperative computed tomographic findings.

CONCLUSION

During primary assessment of the patient with OBF, preoperative ocular signs and symptoms, fracture severity, and location of OBF are key predictors of postoperative diplopia.

CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Risk, III.