Primary reconstruction of extensive orbital fractures using two-piece patient-specific implants: the Helsinki protocol.

PURPOSE: We present our experience of titanium-milled two-piece patient-specific implants (PSIs) for primary reconstructions of extensive orbital floor and medial wall fractures (EOFMFs) and evaluate their postoperative functional and aesthetic outcomes in relation to commercially available implants. METHODS: We included all patients with primary reconstructions (< 22 days from injury) of EOFMFs treated in our department between January 2011 and October 2020. Extensive orbital floor and medial wall fracture was defined as involvement of orbital floor, medial wall and maxilloethmoidal junction; a fracture defect 5 mm or more; defect size more than a third of both inferior and medial walls; and Jaquiéry classification III or more. Patient characteristics, details of fracture defects and surgeries, postoperative outcomes and implant positions were retrospectively evaluated and compared between study groups. RESULTS: Nineteen patients were included: 5 with two-piece PSIs and 14 with commercial implants. Implant position was good in 4/5 patients with two-piece PSIs and 2/14 with commercial implants. Revision surgery, globe malposition (GMP) > 2 mm, significant diplopia and poor implant position were more frequent in patients with commercial implants than two-piece PSIs. None of the patients with a good overall implant position had any significant postoperative symptoms. CONCLUSION: Extensive orbital fracture reconstructions are somewhat rare, and surgical treatment is associated with a high rate of complications and postoperative symptoms. Titanium-milled two-piece PSIs are well suited for primary reconstructions of EOFMFs, as they lead to more precise reconstructions and fewer postoperative symptoms than commercially available implants.

Ageing increases risk of lower eyelid malposition after primary orbital fracture reconstruction.

Lower eyelid malposition (LEM) is a common sequela after orbital fracture reconstruction. This study aimed to analyse the development of LEM, specifically ectropion and entropion, following primary orbital fracture reconstruction, to identify predictive factors for LEM, and to assess the effect of the eyelid complication on patients' daily lives. The retrospective cohort comprised patients who had undergone orbital floor and/or medial wall fracture reconstruction for recent trauma. Demographics, fracture type and site, surgery and implant-related variables, follow-up time and number of visits, type and severity of LEM, subsequent surgical correction, and patient satisfaction, were analysed. The overall occurrence of LEM was 8%, with ectropion in 6% and entropion in 2% of patients. Older age, complex fractures, transcutaneous approaches, preoperative traumatic lower lid wounds, and implant material were associated with the development of LEM. Of all patients, 3% needed surgical correction of LEM. Six of the 13 patients (46%) who developed LEM required surgical correction. The transconjunctival approach and patient-specific implants should be preferred, especially in elderly patients and those with more complex fractures. LEM often requires subsequent surgical correction, and the treatment period is substantially prolonged, with multiple extra visits to the clinic.

Implant malposition and revision surgery in primary orbital fracture reconstructions.

The aim of the study was to assess factors leading to revision surgery and implant position of primary orbital fracture reconstructions. A retrospective cohort included patients who underwent orbital floor and/or medial wall fracture reconstruction for recent trauma. Demographics, fracture type, surgery and implant-related variables, and postoperative implant position were analyzed. The overall revision surgery rate was 6.5% (15 of 232 surgeries). The rate was highest in combined midfacial fractures with rim involvement (14.0%), lower in zygomatico-orbital fractures (8.7%), and lowest in isolated blowout fractures (3.8%). Fracture type, orbital rim fixation and implant malposition predicted revision. The best positioning was achieved with patient-specific milled titanium implants (mtPSI) and resorbable materials, whereas the poorest with preformed three-dimensional titanium plates. Combined midfacial fractures with rim involvement in particular have a high risk for orbital revision surgery. Within the limitations of the present study, mtPSIs should be preferred in the reconstruction of primary orbital fractures if possible.