Comparison of post-operative outcomes of graft materials used in reconstruction of blow-out fractures

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Trauma to the face caused by assault or impact may cause internal orbital fracture. Increased intraorbital pressure without disruption of soft tissue integrity or causing a fracture line in orbital rims or orbital floor fractures described as "orbital blowout fracture". Such fractures have been categorized as "pure blow-out fractures" in which only the orbital floor is affected, and "impure blow-out fractures" in which other maxillofacial bones such as zygoma, maxilla and nasoethmoid are also affected. Physical examination reveals periorbital edema and ecchymosis, subconjunctival hemorrhage, limitation of eye globe movements, diplopia, enophthalmos, dystopia, and infraorbital hypoesthesia. Reconstruction of the orbital bony structures is the most important issue to preserve the standard orbital functions and providing an aesthetic view. Although many surgical approaches have been defined in the literature regarding the attitude and timing of treatment, no consensus exists. In literature; many autogenous and alloplastic biomaterials have been recommended to correct orbital bone defects. METHODS: This study aims to compare postoperative outcomes of patients presenting with pure and impure blow-out fractures repaired with cartilage, bone grafts, titanium mesh or porous polyethylene implant. Sixty-four orbital floor fractures of 62 cases were included in this research who admitted to our clinic with maxillofacial trauma between 2011 and 2018. All patients underwent maxillofacial radiological examination; Waters radiography and also axial-coronal plane maxillofacial and orbital computerized tomography. RESULTS: Permanent, post-operative, vertical diplopia in extreme gazes was detected in 3 of 14 patients in whom the orbital floor was reconstructed with an iliac bone graft. Two of nineteen cases who underwent reconstruction using auricular conchal cartilage graft had vertical diplopia in extreme gazes four months after the operation. The implant extruded and became palpable in 2 of 15 patients in the porous polyethylene implant group. None of the patients in the iliac bone and conchal cartilage autograft groups was presented late postoperative enophthalmos according to the graft resorption. In titanium mesh group, 1 of eleven patients had permanent, postoperative vertical diplopia in extreme gazes. None of the patients in this group developed any donor area complications, infection, or implant extrusion. CONCLUSION: Results show that the auricular conchal cartilage graft was the best biomaterial used to repair defects smaller than 4 cm², where as titanium mesh was a good option to repair defects larger than 4 cm². However, selection of the optimal biomaterial to be used to repair orbital blow-out fractures should be made according to patient characteristics and preoperative findings, the severity of the injury, the cost of the biomaterial to be used, and surgeon's expertise.