Pediatric Orbital Floor Fractures: Outcome Analysis of 72 Children with Orbital Floor Fractures.

Abstract

Orbital floor fractures are uncommon in the pediatric population. The aim of this study was to review the presentation, management, and outcomes for children with these injuries. A retrospective review was performed on 72 consecutive children with orbital floor fractures over a 21-year period. Seventy-two patients with 76 fractures were identified. Mean follow-up time was 14.2 ± 4 months. The majority (50 percent) of patients suffered minimally displaced fractures, whereas 17 percent (13 of 76) suffered blowout fractures and 5 percent (four of 76) suffered trapdoor fractures. Nineteen percent of children (14 of 72) presented with decreased visual acuity and 8 percent (six of 72) had enophthalmos on presentation. Thirty-three percent (24 of 72) underwent surgery. The most common indications for surgery were size of the fracture, followed by muscle entrapment. Fracture width and the defect width-to-orbital width ratios were significantly greater in the operative cohort versus their conservatively managed counterparts (20.7 mm versus 7.7 mm, p < 0.05, and 0.54 versus 0.32, p < 0.05, respectively). Surgery was not associated with improved visual outcomes (p < 0.05). However, patients who underwent reconstruction had a significantly lower adjusted risk of enophthalmos on follow-up (relative risk, 0.02; 95 percent CI, 0.00 to 0.49; p < 0.05). Operative intervention prevents enophthalmos in pediatric patients with pediatric orbital floor fractures, and patients who present with decreased visual acuity should be cautioned that surgical intervention does not improve visual outcomes. Risk, II.