Relationship between small-size medial orbital wall fracture and late enophthalmos

• Published in: The Journal of craniofacial surgery Vol. 20; no. 1; p. 75
• Main Authors: Lee, Won Taeg, Kim, Han Kyeol, Chung, Seung Moon
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.01.2009
• Subjects: Cephalometry; Enophthalmos - etiology; Enophthalmos - psychology; Ethmoid Bone - injuries; Facial Asymmetry - etiology; Facial Asymmetry - psychology; Frontal Bone - injuries; Humans; Joint Dislocations - classification; Joint Dislocations - complications; Maxillary Fractures - classification; Orbit - injuries; Orbital Fractures - classification; Orbital Fractures - complications; Retrospective Studies; Self Concept; Skull Fractures - classification; Tomography, X-Ray Computed
• ISSN: 1536-3732
• DOI: 10.1097/SCS.0b013e318190df0d

According to the result of retrospective studies for patients who have not taken medical treatment, most patients experience late enophthalmos and perceive their facial asymmetry. Thus, correct diagnosis method and concrete operative indication were required for medial orbital wall fracture. Retrospective investigation on all patients with facial trauma, who had visited the emergency room between January 1, 2000 and December 31, 2006, was made. Height and longitudinal length of the defect were obtained, and computed tomographic scan of the defect area was obtained. The degree of enophthalmos was measured, and investigation on enophthalmos and presence of facial asymmetry perceived by the patients was made. When the defect area of medial orbital wall fracture was 0.55 cm, late enophthalmos of 1 mm occurred, and patients with late enophthalmos of 1 mm or more perceived their enophthalmos and facial asymmetry. In conclusion, medial orbital wall fracture whose defect area is 0.55 cm or more requires operation.