Outcomes of severely comminuted (type III) nasoorbitoethmoid fractures.
OBJECTIVE
Nasoorbitoethmoid (NOE) fractures are complex and often challenging to repair. Inadequate treatment may result in secondary deformities which are difficult to treat. Severely comminuted fractures require repositioning of the medial canthal tendon. The purpose of this study was to evaluate all results in treating these challenging injuries. The work is to be used as a basis for continuing quality improvement of our surgical technique.


METHODS
[corrected] Ten consecutive patients who sustained a comminuted NOE (type III) fracture were included in this study. All patients had comminution of the central fragment involving the detachment of the medial canthus.


RESULTS
Transnasal reduction, primary grafting, and plate and screw fixation were used for all patients. Two patients demonstrated slight asymmetry between the medial canthi. Two patients were observed to have overprojection in the nasofrontal region.


CONCLUSIONS
Severely comminuted type III NOE fractures are best treated primarily to avoid secondary deformities.
Herford
Alan S
AS
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Loma Linda University, CA 92350, USA. aherford@sd.llu.edu
Ying
Thomas
T
Brown
Brandon
B
D001860:Bone Plates; D001863:Bone Screws; D016025:Bone Transplantation; D005004:Ethmoid Bone / Q000293:injuries*; D005143:Eyelids / Q000293:injuries / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal; D017102:Fracture Healing; D018460:Fractures, Comminuted / Q000601:surgery*; D005624:Frontal Bone / Q000293:injuries; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008440:Maxillary Fractures / Q000601:surgery; D009295:Nasal Bone / Q000293:injuries*; D009917:Orbital Fractures / Q000601:surgery*; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care; D012887:Skull Fractures / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome