title: Exposure of the inferior orbit with fornix incision and lateral canthotomy.
abstract: Exposure of the inferior orbit is necessary for exploration of the orbit for repair of orbital fractures, reconstruction of the orbit to correct enophthalmos with a volume implant, and decompression of the orbit to relieve the symptoms and improve appearance in cases of dysthyroid exophthalmos. The usual approach to the inferior orbit has been through a subciliary skin incision and dissection of a skin flap to the orbital rim. A technique is presented which utilizes an inferior fornix conjunctival incision combined with a lateral canthotomy and outward rotation of the lower lid. The advantages of this technique are that it avoids a lengthy skin incision with dissection which may present skin shrinkage if repeated surgery is necessary, employs a very simple closure, and provides better exposure of the nasal, inferior and lateral orbits while leaving the lower lid structures intact, preserving its integrity.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005143:Eyelids / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006111:Graves Disease / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008202:Lymphangioma / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008722:Methods; D009915:Orbit / Q000293:injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D009918:Orbital Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D012887:Skull Fractures / Q000601:surgery