Diplopia and enophthalmos after surgical repair of blowout fracture

PURPOSE: To evaluate the incidence of residual diplopia and enophthalmos and the possible risk factors leading to their occurrence in patients who had orbital blowout fracture repair. METHODS: Forty-two patients with pure orbital blowout fracture who had at least 6 months postoperative follow-up were included in the study group. Nineteen (45.2%) patients had orbital floor, two (4.8%) patients had medial orbital wall and 21 (50%) patients had a combination of orbital floor and medial orbital wall fractures. The fracture was reconstructed with porous polyethylene (Medpore) in 22, supramide in 12 and gelatin (Gelfilm) in 8 orbits. Mean postoperative follow-up was 11 months. RESULTS: Preoperatively, 35 patients (83%) had diplopia and 13 patients (30.9%) had enophthalmos greater than 2 mm. Of 35 patients who had preoperative diplopia, only 7 (17%) patients experienced diplopia postoperatively. Diplopia improved 1 to 4 weeks (mean, 3 weeks) following surgery in 28 patients. Timing of surgery and age of the patient were significant for the development of postoperative diplopia (p < 0.05). Sex, location of the blowout fracture and the alloplast material were not found to be significant for the development of postoperative diplopia (p > 0.05). Enophthalmos persisted in three (7%) patients postoperatively. CONCLUSION: Old patients were more likely to have residual postoperative diplopia. Surgical repair of blowout fractures within two weeks of trauma decreases the incidence of residual diplopia.