Deep orbital reconstruction for correction of post-traumatic enophthalmos

• Published in: Clinics in plastic surgery Vol. 14; no. 1; p. 113
• Main Authors: Manson, P N, Ruas, E J, Iliff, N T
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.01.1987
• Subjects: Adipose Tissue - pathology; Adult; Atrophy; Eye - pathology; Female; Humans; Ligaments - pathology; Ligaments - surgery; Male; Orbital Diseases - etiology; Orbital Diseases - pathology; Orbital Diseases - surgery; Orbital Fractures - complications; Postoperative Complications; Skull Fractures - complications; Surgery, Plastic - methods
• ISSN: 0094-1298
• DOI: 10.1016/S0094-1298(20)30702-1

Post-traumatic enophthalmos is a complex orbital deformity resulting from an injury disrupting orbital bone and ligament support, allowing displacement and a change in shape of the orbital soft-tissue contents. Clinically, this is manifested by inferior and posterior displacement of the globe, pseudoptosis, and deepening of the supratarsal fold. Soft-tissue changes such as canthal malposition and shortening of the horizontal dimension of the palpebral fissure are present when unreduced nasoethmoidal orbital fractures exist. The essential principles of surgical correction include full dissection of the bony orbital soft tissues including the posterior orbit with restoration of bony orbital volume by the judicious insertion of bone grafts to correct the vertical as well as the anteroposterior position of the ocular globe. The combination of techniques of craniofacial exposure, osteotomy, and bone grafting allow the condition of post-traumatic enophthalmos to be greatly improved with minimal complications.