Analysis of Persistent Diplopia and Enophthalmos after Surgical Repair of Blowout Fracture

Purpose: To evaluate the incidence of persistent diplopia and enophthalmos and possible risk factors leading to their occurrence in patients who had orbital blowout fracture repair. Methods: We retrospectively evaluated clinical features in 76 eyes of 76 patients with orbital blowout fracture, who were repaired surgically after its diagnosis from March 1995 to November 2001. We analysed the relationship between persistent diplopia and enophthalmos after reconstruction and timing of surgery, patient age, fracture location, fracture size and alloplast material. Results: Postoperatively, 11 patients (22.9%) expirienced diplopia and enophthalmos persisted in 11 (28.2%) patients. Timing of surgery, patient age, fracture location, fracture size was found to be significant for the development of postoperative diplopia but alloplast material was not significant for the development of postoperative diplopia (p>0.05). Timing of surgery and fracture size was found to be significant for the development of postoperative enophthalmos but patient age, fracture location and alloplast material was not significant for the development of postoperative enophthalmos (p>0.05). Conclusions: We believe that timing of surgery is important prognostic factor that decreases the incidence of persistent diplopia and enophthalmos after surgical repair of blowout fracture. In addition, this study will provide important prognostic informations that can be of benefit to both patients and surgeon in performing surgical repair of blowout fracture.