ORBITAL FRACTURE

ORBITAL FRACTURE

ORBITAL OR BLOWOUT FRACTURES REFER TO FRACTURES OF THE ORBITAL RIM OR FLOOR OF THE ORBIT. THESE INJURIES USUALLY OCCUR WHEN A BLUNT OBJECT HITS THE EYE SUCH AS A FIST OR A BALL. THIS CAN CAUSE FLUID TO FILL THE MAXILLARY SINUS, OR IN SEVERE CASES, WHEN THE RIM OF THE ORBIT IS FRACTURED, THE EYE BALL ITSELF CAN SLIP OUT OF ITS NORMAL POSITION WITHIN THE SOCKET.

SYMPTOMS INCLUDE PAIN AND SWELLING. ALSO, DOUBLE VISION, ALTERED SENSATION TO THE AFFECTED EYE, AND SUNKEN EYE (ENOPHTHALMOS). SINUS PAIN AND PRESSURE ALONG WITH NASAL CONGESTION ARE ALSO SYMPTOMS OF A BLOWOUT FRACTURE OF THE ORBITAL FLOOR.

ALTHOUGH XRAYS CAN BE PERFORMED, CT IS THE PREFERRED METHOD OF DIAGNOSIS. AXIAL, CORONAL, AND SAGITTAL IMAGES ARE USED BY THE RADIOLOGIST TO DIAGNOSE.

DEPENDING ON THE SEVERITY OF THE INJURY, SURGERY MAY BE REQUIRED TO REPAIR AN ORBIT FRACTURE. IF THE ORBITAL RIM IS NOT COMPROMISED AND THE EYE BALL IS IN PLACE THEN SURGERY IS USUALLY NOT DONE.