Orbital Fractures
What is an orbital fracture?
All of the bone, muscle, fat, nerve and vascular structures surrounding the eye is called an orbit. Bone breaks around the eye are called orbital fractures. The orbital area is the most sensitive and delicate area of our face. For this reason, traumas to be experienced in the orbital area should be detected and treated early. Orbital fractures are frequently encountered in the event of impact or contact with a hard object. Emergency intervention is very important for the treatment of orbital fractures, especially in children. Orbital fractures can be asymptomatic and require careful examination. The risks of causing double vision problems or changes in the position of the eyeball should be examined in detail.
What are the orbital fracture types?
Orbital rim fracture:
Because the bony outer edges of the eye socket are so thick, it’s required too much pressure for a fracture to occur. The orbital bones in the orbital area, that is, the bones of the roof and side walls, are hard. There are two types of orbital opening fractures. A zygomatic fracture is a fracture involving the lower edge of the eye corner, which is part of the jawbone. There is also a frontal bone fracture. It is a fracture involving the upper edge of the eye corner, which is part of the frontal bone. Fractures in this area are usually caused by car accidents. It is possible to encounter orbital edge fractures as a result of severe traumas in car accidents. Therefore, an ophthalmologist should be consulted immediately after an accident.
Blowout fracture:
A blowout fracture is a break in the floor or inner wall of the orbit or eye socket. A crack in the very thin bone that makes up these walls can compress the muscles and other structures around the eye, preventing the eyeball from moving properly. Sudden and hard blows, such as a fist blow, can often cause blowout fractures. The blowout fracture may not be felt at the moment. For this reason, an ophthalmologist should be consulted in case of sudden impacts around the eyes.
Orbital floor fracture:
This is when a blow or trauma to the orbital rim pushes the bones back, causing the bones of the floor of the eye socket to bend downward. An orbital floor fracture can also affect the muscles and nerves around the eyes, preventing them from moving properly and feeling normal.
What are the symptoms of an orbital fracture?
· Blurred, decreased, or double vision
· Black and blue bruising around the eyes
· Swelling of the forehead or cheek
· Swollen skin under the eyes
· Numbness on the injured side of the face
· Blood in the white part of the eye
· Difficulty moving the eye to look left, right, up, or down
· Intense cheek pain when opening the mouth
· Swollen or sunken pupils
Diagnosis of Orbital Fractures
In the eye examination after the trauma, a detailed examination is performed according to the history of the impact. During the control, vision functions, eye muscles, eyelids, cheek, upper lip, and upper teeth are checked by the doctor and the eye is examined with an ophthalmoscope to check for internal damage. A CT scan, “computer tomography of the scanned area”, can be performed for a more comprehensive examination of the person with a suspected orbital fracture. A CT scan can diagnose an eye socket fracture with an X-ray.
How are orbital fractures treated?
In most cases, orbital fractures do not need to be treated with surgery. If the orbital fracture is minor, the ophthalmologist may recommend placing ice packs on the area to reduce swelling and allow the eye socket to heal on its own over time. Sometimes antibiotics and decongestants may also be prescribed. An orbital fracture can cause double vision when it prevents the eye from moving properly, or it is more severe when the eyeball is repositioned in its socket. In this case, the ophthalmologist may refer the patient to an oculoplastic surgeon (a specially trained ophthalmologist) for surgery. In many cases, the oculoplastic surgeon may choose to wait a while to see how the healing process is going before performing surgery. Waiting until the swelling subsides before surgery usually gives better results. If the orbital fracture symptoms disappear, it may be possible to avoid surgery and possible complications associated with it.
Orbital fractures are important. After injuries that will affect your eye area, you should get an eye examination.
Prepared by the Dünyagöz Hospital Editorial Board.
*The content of this page is for informational purposes only. See your doctor for diagnosis and treatment.
Last Update Date: 05.08.2022
