Orbital fracture

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Orbital fractures can be complex due to the variability of injuries and their proximity to the globe, brain and cranial nerves.
Fractures are usually defined in terms of their anatomical location:

  • Fractures involving the orbital rim
    • Isolated orbital rim fractures
    • Contiguous with internal wall fracture
    • Zygomatic-maxillary complex fracture
    • Naso-ethmoidal fractures
    • Other pan-facial fracture i.e. Le Fort
  • Fractures limited to the internal orbital skeleton
    • Blow-out fracture (floor and medial orbital walls most common)
    • Trap door fracture

Epidemiology[edit | edit source]

Orbital trauma accounts for 8-25% of all facial fracture presentations
BAOMS National Facial Injury Survey this has increased by 35% over a 10yr period
5-19% of patients presenting to A&E with isolated head injury with also have concomitant orbital injury

Clinical Features[edit | edit source]

Presentation ranges depending on force of mechanism:

  • Orbital ecchymosis/ swelling/ laceration
  • Enophthalmos/ Hypoglobus
  • Bony step
  • Surgical emphysema
  • Reduced sensation to maxillary branch of trigeminal nerve (V2)

Eye signs:

  • Subconjunctival haemorrhage without posterior boarder
  • Ophthalmoplegia resulting in diplopia: Monocular v Binocular
  • Reduced visual acuity &/ or colour vision
  • Globe injury: abrasion, hyphema, detachment, rupture etc
  • Relative afferent pupillary defect


Note trap door fractures in the paediatric population can be subtle and the only sign maybe restricted upward gaze or signs of the oculocardiac reflex: recurrent nausea & vomiting and bradycardia on looking up

Differential Diagnosis[edit | edit source]

Following conditions should be considered when assessing orbital trauma:

  • Orbital Compartment syndrome
  • Superior orbital fissure syndrome (SOF) (<1% of trauma)
    • Characterized by ophthalmoplegia, ptosis, proptosis of eye, dilation and fixation of the pupil, loss of corneal reflex and anaesthesia of the upper eyelid and forehead
    • Optic nerve not affected
  • Traumatic optic neuropathy
    • Like SOFS with CNII involvement
    • Due to compression/ laceration of CNII through direct trauma or coupe/ contrecoup injury intracranially

Aetiology and Pathogenesis[edit | edit source]

Aetiology[edit | edit source]

  • Dependent on mechanism of injury
    • Low velocity: floor and medial wall fractures
    • High velocity: rim and lateral wall fractures
  • Most common mechanisms:
    • Assault 52%
    • Falls 31%
    • Sport injury 14%
    • Road traffic accidents 3%
  • Don't forget domestic abuse and NAI

Pathogenesis[edit | edit source]

Hydraulic theory: The globe itself is struck directly from an object and is thrust posteriorly, transiently raising the pressure within the orbit causing the floor to ‘blow out’ into the maxillary sinus at its greatest point of weakness, above the infraorbital neurovascular bundle.

Buckling theory: Blunt trauma to the face transmits a pressure wave along the bone of the orbit causing them to “buckle” and crack.

Note in trap door fracture, due to bony compressibility and elasticity the fractured bone recoils back into position entrapping orbital contents notably fat and the inferior rectus muscle.

Investigations[edit | edit source]

Initial Assessment[edit | edit source]

Assessment as per ATLS guidelines

  • 4-8% may have associated c-spine injury with roof and lateral walls showing higher association

Rule out sight threatening injury Full eye assessment:

  • Visual acuity
  • Visual Fields
  • Occular movement
  • Pupillary reflexes

Imaging[edit | edit source]

Plain film radiographs CT Orbits

Other[edit | edit source]

Ocular pressure

Management[edit | edit source]

  • Conservative
  • Surgical: if functional or aesthetic concerns

Prognosis and Complications[edit | edit source]

General:

  • Depends on fracture pattern and incision made

Trapdoor:

  • Operative time within 24hrs carries highest success rates in terms of recovery time and diplopia

Blowout:

  • Extent of defect and volume loss
  • Intraoperative techniques used: 3D printed, intraoperative navigation

Follow up:

  • Standard surgical follow up for OMFS
  • Ophthalmology f/u in case of strabismus correction

References[edit | edit source]