Update on orbital floor fractures: indications and timing for repair.

There has been much discussion and controversy over the management of blowout fractures of the orbit. At various times, recommendations have included operating on all orbital floor fractures and operating on none of them. As our understanding of blowout fractures and their sequelae has evolved over time, so too has understanding of when and whom would benefit from surgery. In the past, the focus has often been on early versus late repair. The focus should really be on understanding the mechanisms of diplopia and enophthalmos in orbital floor fractures, the best way to evaluate a patient, and, finally, the best method of restoring maximal function and appearance. We present herein a historical perspective on the management of orbital floor fractures and our current recommendations for the indications and timing of surgical repair.

Zygomatico-orbital fractures: historical perspective and current surgical management.

This article presents a general historical review of zygomatico-orbital (ZO) fractures with application of contemporary surgical procedures. Two surgical cases are presented, in which the ZO fractures were approached via a transconjunctival incision with a lateral canthotomy. A two-point rigid internal fixation, combined with a porous high-density polyethylene orbital floor reconstruction, produced uniformly excellent cosmetic and functional results in a total of 42 patients with ZO fractures who were treated over a 2-year period.

The radiology of orbital trauma: an historical overview.

Professor Roentgen presented the roentgen ray in 1895. The subsequent history of radiology is characterized not by steady, but by stepwise advancement. Each new innovation produced a forward surge followed by a period of refinement in which the new method was developed and exploited to the very limits of its diagnostic yield.