Objective: To evaluate the outcomes of the clinical application of three-dimensionally preformed titanium mesh plates for posttraumatic complex orbital bone fracture reconstruction.
Methods: Thirteen patients (13 eyes) manifested with complex orbital fractures (including orbital-zygomatic-maxillary bone fracture in 6 patients, nasal-orbital-ethmoid bone fracture in 5 patients and complex multiple periorbital bone fracture in other 2 patients) underwent the reconstructive surgery by using three-dimensionally preformed titanium mesh plates. Eight cases underwent high density porous polyethylene implantation simultaneously. Evaluation of enophthalmos, eyeball movement, and orbit CT scan were taken pre- and post-operatively.
Results: The average enophthalmos was (3.9 ± 1.7) mm and the position of the affected eyeball was (3.1 ± 2.6) mm bellow the contralateral side preoperatively. Twelve patients suffered from eyeball movement restriction, including grade I in 4 cases, grade II in 7 cases and grade III in 2 cases. During the 3 to 6 months post operative follow-up, enophthalmos was completely corrected in 10 patients while the other 3 patients had residual 1.0 mm enophthalmos. The affected eyeballs were repositioned in 8 cases and 3 cases had residual 1 mm lower position and 2 cases with a 1 mm higher positioned eyeball. Eye movement was not restricted in 8 patients, whereas 3 patients had grade I movement restriction and 2 patients had grade II movement restriction. There were no rejection, infection and other complications during follow-up.
Conclusions: Three-dimensionally preformed titanium mesh plates can be used to reconstruct posttraumatic complex orbital bone fractures in order to improve the orbital volume and to correct enophthalmos effectively.