Use of membrane and bone grafts in the reconstruction of orbital fractures.
OBJECTIVE
To present and analyze the clinical results derived from the use of different grafts for the reconstruction of orbital defects during a 10-year period.


METHODS
Fifty-five fracture cases with orbital bony defect, requiring a graft, are presented. The surgical treatment includes the reconstruction of the fracture (osteosynthesis) and the repair of the remaining bone defect by graft, with the type of graft dependent on the size of the defect. For minor defects membranes were used (lyophilized dura or alloplastic dura mater), whereas major defects were repaired with bone grafts (autografts, heterografts, or bone substitute material). All patients have been regularly evaluated for at least one year postoperatively.


RESULTS
All grafts were well tolerated by the patients. Diplopia subsided in all but 5 cases, motility disturbance was fully repaired in all but 3 cases. Esthetics were improved in cases with severe bone defect.


CONCLUSIONS
The wide variety of grafts available allows successful reconstruction of all types of orbital bony defects. The clinician should be able to use different types of grafts depending on the type and size of the defect.
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University of Athens, Evangelismos Hospital, University of Athens, Greece. lygidakis@internet.gr
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Iatrou
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Theologie-Lygidakis
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Angelopoulos
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016025:Bone Transplantation; D004388:Dura Mater / Q000637:transplantation*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008440:Maxillary Fractures / Q000601:surgery; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D008875:Middle Aged; D009917:Orbital Fractures / Q000601:surgery*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015051:Zygomatic Fractures / Q000601:surgery
D008567:Membranes, Artificial