title: Medial orbital wall reconstruction with flexible Ethisorb patches.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to analyse the long-term result after reconstruction of the medial orbital wall with a flexible, biodegradable material (Ethisorb).
  
  
  METHODS
  During a period of almost 8 years, 31 patients with a medial orbital wall fracture were analysed retrospectively. Inclusion criteria were patients with a maximum size fracture of the orbital medial wall measuring 1.5-2 cm(2). Exophthalmos, enophthalmos, bulbus motility, diplopia and skin sensation were investigated over a period of 6 months. In all patients, the medial orbital wall was reconstructed with Ethisorb patches.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No significant intraoperative complications were detected. No postoperative infection, abscess or seroma was found in any of the patients receiving an Ethisorb patch.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The advantage of the semiflexibility of the Ethisorb patch is that it supplies an anatomically correct fit to the orbital medial wall but does not require fixation by screws or the use of sutures.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The low rate of reported bulbus motility disturbance, diplopia, exophthalmos and enophthalmos demonstrates acceptable results after medial orbital wall reconstruction using the Ethisorb patch.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistrasse 54, 20246 Hamburg, Germany. ppohlenz@uke.de
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pohlenz
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Adler
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Schmelzle
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Klatt
mesh_terms: D020341:Absorbable Implants; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry*; D054893:Cone-Beam Computed Tomography / Q000379:methods; D004172:Diplopia / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D015841:Enophthalmos / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D005094:Exophthalmos / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007430:Intraoperative Care; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015835:Ocular Motility Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D009917:Orbital Fractures / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D011100:Polyglycolic Acid / Q000737:chemistry*; D019919:Prosthesis Implantation / Q000379:methods; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012677:Sensation / Q000502:physiology; D012867:Skin / Q000294:innervation; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; C460779:Ethisorb; D011100:Polyglycolic Acid