Year: 2026
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: INTRODUCTION: Isolated orbital floor fractures in juveniles are a challenge, as children and adolescents may experience diplopia and limited ocular motility, even with little to no periorbital edema or visible signs of injury to the eye. The aim of the present study is to assess the demographic and clinical variables, and the outcomes of pediatric patients affected by isolated orbital wall fractures at several European oral and maxillofacial surgery centers. METHODS: Pediatric patients (less than 18 years) with hospitalized and surgically treated for unilateral isolated orbital blow out fractures of the orbital floor and/or the medial wall were included. The following data were recorded for each patient: gender, age, etiology of trauma, site of orbital wall fracture(s), timing of intervention, surgical approach, orbital reconstruction material/implant, post-operative complications RESULTS: A total of 51 pediatric patients (45 boys, 6 girls) with a mean age of 12.1 years were included. Most patients (43 children, 84.3%) presented with an isolated orbital floor fracture. Clinically, the most frequently observed sign was diplopia / double vision (43 patients, 84.3%). More than two thirds (68.6%) of cases were surgically treated within the first two days from injury. In 6 patients (11.8%) one or more persistent postoperative disturbances were found six months postoperatively, including diplopia in 3 subjects (5.9%), infraorbital nerve paresthesia in 2 patients (3.9%), and enophthalmos in 2 patients (3.9%). CONCLUSIONS: The rarity of pure orbital wall fractures in pediatric patients makes it difficult to establish uniform evidence-based guidelines for their management. These injuries must also be recognized promptly, as surgical intervention may be required at a very early stage. A reasoned and individualized choice of the optimal surgical approach appears to be the most appropriate strategy for this specific type of facial fracture in the pediatric population. CLINICAL TRIAL NUMBER: Not applicable.
Authors: Paolo Boffano, Anssi Lahtinen, Matteo Brucoli, Muhammad Ruslin, Andrea Melle, Panagiotis Stathopoulos, Dimitra Maniati, Emil Dediol, Boris Kos, Adam Michcik, Adam Polcyn, Thomas Starch-Jensen, Ivana Mijatov, Branislav V. Bajkin, Annabelle Cailleaux, Eugénie Bertin, Christophe Meyer, Aurélien Louvrier, Andrii V. Kopchak, Tetiana A. Pavlychuk, Sergi Herrera I Nogués, Ana Martínez-Carrillo, Juan Carlos de Vicente, Linas Zaleckas, Rūta Rastenienė, Augustinas Stasiūnas, Jan Naberoj, Luka Prodnik, Tadej Dovsak, Johanna Snäll
Institutions: Università degli Studi del Piemonte Orientale “Amedeo Avogadro”, Hasanuddin University, University of Helsinki, Helsinki University Hospital, University Hospital Dubrava, Gdańsk Medical University, Aalborg University Hospital, University of Novi Sad, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Besançon, Soins intégrés, Nanomédecine, IA & Ingénierie pour la Santé, Université Marie et Louis Pasteur, Bogomolets National Medical University, Hospital Universitario Central de Asturias, Vilnius University, Ljubljana University Medical Centre
Language: English
Subfield: Surgery
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $2,490
OpenAlex ID: W7221804375