Indications to Operate on Orbital Fractures

Abstract

For proper understanding of indications to operate orbital fractures we must first define what we are really talking about. Orbital fractures sometimes represent an isolated fracture of one or two orbits. In other cases, however, they are only a part of general fracture of the base of skull and of the facial bones. In these latter cases the importance of the orbital fracture is overruled by the more generalized damage and in particular by the general condition of the patient. Accordingly this paper refers to the more isolated fracture of the orbit, where we can distinguish three types of fractures:

• • fractures of the zygomatic bone (impression or luxation)

• • blow-out fractures with and without incarceration of muscles

• • fractures of the orbital roof and of the optic foramen.