• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.461-464
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• 2010

Purpose: Blepharoptosis can result from either congenital or acquired causes. Blow out fracture or facial bone fracture including blow out fracture can be one of the causes. Authors experienced 3 cases of severe blepharoptosis after blow out fracture treated only with observation after reduction of associated fracture. Methods: Reconstruction of orbital wall was conducted on all cases diagnosed as blow out fracture using 3 dimensional computed tomography, and conservative treatment was done on accompanying severe blepharoptosis. Results: At the time of injury, all cases showed severe blepharoptosis requiring frontalis muscle transfer for correction. But blepharoptosis was recovered in an average of 18 weeks without any surgical procedure except reconstruction of orbital wall. Conclusion: Once Blepharoptosis occurred after blow out fracture, thorough evaluation must be done at first. If definitive cause of blepahroptisis cannot be found as authors' cases, injury of oculomotor nerve may result in blepharoptosis. So, as for blepharoptosis after blow out fracture, conservative treatment following reconstruction of fractured orbital wall can be one of good management.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.35 no.5
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• pp.560-564
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• 2008

Purpose: Because of traffic accidents and many criminal violences, the incidence of facial trauma has been increasing not only in adults but also in children. We planed this study to introduce our experience about pediatric blow out fracture and provide more information. Methods: We made retrospective study in 76 children with blow out fracture from January 2001 to September 2005 by retrospective chart review including detailed preoperative and postoperative evaluations, age, sex, cause, symptom and sign, and their post-operative complications. Results: Among our patients, 69 were male and 7 were female. The ages ranged from 7 to 18 years, which shows the greatest incidence of blow out fracture. Physical violence(46%) was the most common cause in this group and was followed by vehicle accident(28%), and fall down accident(17%). Left side(64%) showed slightly more incidence than right side(36%), but there were no statistical importance. Ecchymosis(88%) was the most common symptom and followed by periorbital swelling(68%) and diplopia(30%). 30 patients was diagnosed with another facial bone fracture and nasal bone(51%) was the most common associated facial bone fracture. Fourty four Patients(60%) got an orbital wall reconstruction in 7 days after trauma. After the operation, only 3 patients(4%) suffered from diplopia postoperative 3 month, and resolved in 4 years. Conclusion: The incidence of blow out fracture in children has been increasing every year, and violence has become more important etiology of pediatric blow out fracture and public and private education institutions were the most common place that blow out fracture originated. Accurate diagnosis and careful treatment plans are important in pediatric blow out fracture.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.729-734
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• 2007

Purpose: The operative treatment for blow-out fracture involves restoration of intra-orbital soft tissue and bony structural integrity. There are several methods for reconstruction of inferior blow out fracture. We report reduction of inferior blow-out fracture with urinary balloon catheter in comparison with $Medpor^{(R)}$ using group to complication rate. Methods: A retrospective study was performed on 67 patients who underwent inferior orbital blow-out fracture reconstruction with $Medpor^{(R)}$ implant or urinary balloon catheter following between 2003 and 2006. Hospital records were reviewed especially for preoperative and postoperative enophthalmos, diplopia, extraocular muscle movement limitations, and hypoesthesia between $Medpor^{(R)}$ implant group and balloon catheter using group. Results: There was no significant statistical difference between both groups on incidence of postoperative complications of enophthalmos, diplopia, extraocular muscle movement limitations, and hypoesthesia. Postoperative infection, ectropion were absent in both groups.Conclusion: The use of urinary balloon catheter is simple, fast and inexpensive. Urinary balloon catheter is an alternative and reliable use for reduction of inferior orbital blow-out fracture.

• Archives of Craniofacial Surgery
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.23-28
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• 2009

Purpose: Blow out fracture can present tenderness, swelling, enophthalmos, extraoccular muscle limitation, paresthesia, diplopia according to severity of injury, so reconstruction of blow out fracture is important. Orbital soft tissue should be in orbit and defected orbital wall should be corrected by autologus tissue or alloplastic implants. Every implants have their merits and faults, every implants are used various. This study was designed to compare the sequelae of blow-out fracture repair using the alloplastic implants: micro-titanium mesh(Micro Dynamic titanium $mesh^{(R)}$, Leibinger, Germany), porous polyethylene ($Medpor^{(R)}$, Porex, USA), absorbable mesh plate(Biosorb $FX^{(R)}$ . Bionx Implants Ltd, Finland). Methods: Between January 2006 and April 2008, 52 patients were included in a retrospective study analysing the outcome of corrected inferior orbital wall fracture with various kind of implants. Implants were inserted through subciliary incision. Twenty patients were operated with micro-titanium mesh, fourteen patients with porous polyethylene and eighteen patients with absorbable mesh plate. In comparative category, enophthalmos, diplopia, range of motion of extraoccular muscle, inferior orbital nerve injury were more on frequently statistically in patients. Results: Fourteen of 18 patients underwent surgical repair to improve diplopia, 11 of 17 patients to improve parasthesia, 11 of 15 patients to improve enophthalmos, 8 of 9 patients to improve extraoccular muscle limitation. Duration of follow-up time ranged from 6 months to 12 months(mean, 7.4 months). There was no statistic difference of sequelae between micro titanium mesh and porous polyethylene and absorbable mesh plate in blowout fracture, inferior wall. Conclusion: There is no difference of sequelae between micro-titanium mesh, porous polyethylene and absorbable mesh plate in blow-out fracture, inferior wall. The other factors such as defect size, location, surgeon's technique, may influence the outcome of blow-out fracture repair.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.44-50
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• 2009

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the causes of blow-out fractures, the computed tomography findings, and the associated facial bone fractures in aged patients. Methods: This study was performed by conducting a chart review. From January 2004 to December 2007, the patients who visited the emergency room of Asan Medical Center and were diagnosed as having a blow-out fracture were included in the study population. Patients 60 years of age or older were grouped as the aged group while patients younger than 60 years of age were grouped as the control group. Results: Between the aged group and the control group, there was a difference in the causes of blow-out fractures. The most common cause of blow-out fracture was a slip down in the aged group and violence in the control group (p<0.05). There were no differences in associated symptoms. Extraocular muscle herniation was the only statistically different computed tomography findings. In associated facial bone fractures, the most common fractures were the zygoma in the aged group and the nasal bone in the control group (p<0.05). Conclusion: In patients 60 years of age or older, the most common cause of blow-out fracture was a slip down, and the most common associated facial bone fracture was a zygomatic fracture.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.44-51
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• 2007

Purpose: Blow-out fracture is one of the most common fractures in facial trauma. It is diagnosed by Computed Tomography(CT) scan, which is considered as the most effective diagnostic tool. Since, the Picture Archiving Communication System(PACS) has been provided recently to many hospitals, doctors are more familiar with imaging software of PACS. Because this software has many useful measuring tools, doctors can measure orbital structure easily and make a plan for treatment with its data. Therefore, authors intended to analyze the data of orbital structure measured with PACS imaging software and evaluate its usefulness. Methods: The charts and CT images of 100 patients, which were 50 patients with medial wall fracture and 50 patients with floor fracture, were reviewed. Patients were selected by pre-determined criteria and their CT images were measured with image software of PACS. 'Extraocular muscle thickness', 'Defect ratio'(ratio of defect area to normal area) and 'Globe position index' were measured and analyzed statistically. Results: The thickness of inferior rectus muscle and medial rectus muscle was simultaneously increased in acute-stage of blow-out fracture. The medial rectus muscle was more thickened in medial wall fracture and inferior rectus was more thickened in floor fracture, respectively. In acute blow-out fracture, globe position is exophthalmic rather than enophthalmic. Especially in floor fracture, numerical value summed up thickness of all extraocular muscle is correlated to the defect ratio and globe position index. Conclusion: Clinicians can decide globe position or presume defect ratio in inferior wall fracture by measurement of CT image in acute blow-out fracture using PACS.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.43-47
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• 2011

Purpose: Sensory impairment in infraorbital nerve is common symptom following mid-facial fractures. The purpose of this study is to document the incidence of sensory impairment in infraorbital nerve following midfacial fractures and its recovery. Methods: Three hundreds fourteen patients with midfacial fracture were included involving emergence areas of infraorbital nerve. Fractures were classified into zygoma fracture, maxilla fracture, complex comminuted fracture and pure blow out fracture. Neurosensory function was assessed with clinical symptoms and light touch test in infraorbital nerve regions. Patients were followed and sensory function was evaluated immediately, 1, 3 and 6 months after trauma. Results: The total series consisted of 198 zygoma fractures, 19 maxilla fractures, 30 complex comminuted fractures and 67 pure blow out fractures. The incidence of sensory impairment was 60% (63% in zygoma fractures, 84% in maxilla fractures, 93% in complex comminuted fractures, 31% in pure blow out fractures). Persistent sensory impairments were remained in 32% (33% in zygoma fractures, 47% in maxilla fractures, 73% in complex comminuted fractures, 6% in pure blow out fractures) 6 months after trauma. Younger patients had better prognosis than older patients in recovery of infraorbital nerve function ($p$ <0.05, $x^2$-test). Mean recovery time was 11 weeks. Conclusion: The incidence of post-traumatic sensory impairment was different according to fracture types. Age of patients and fracture type were important factors that influence to recovery of sensory impairment. Complex comminuted fracture had poor prognosis, and pure blow out fractures had better prognosis than other fractures.

• Archives of Craniofacial Surgery
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.24-29
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• 2013

Background: The incidence of blow out fractures is increasing and the techniques of diagnosis and treatment have been recently evolving. Despite its clinical significance, there has been no study on orbital inferiomedial blow out fractures. Therefore, this study was designed to investigate the clinical significance of treatment of orbital inferiomedial blow out fractures. Methods: A retrospective review of fifty-seven patients who could be followed up for at least 1 year after surgical reconstruction of pure inferiomedial blow out fracture was undertaken. The transconjunctival approach was performed in all cases. The onlay technique was used in 32 patients and the inlay/sheet method was used in 25 patients. We evaluated the clinical outcomes using the chi-square test. Results: In the group using the onlay technique, postoperative diplopia and enophthalmos were observed in 14 cases and 3 cases, respectively. Of these, 5 cases and 3 cases lasted for more than 6 months, respectively. In the group using the inlay/sheet method, postoperative diplopia was observed in 9 cases, but there were no cases of enophthalmos. Among the 9 diplopia cases, 4 lasted for more than 6 months. Conclusion: Postoperative diplopia and enophthalmos were increased after treatment of inferiomedial blow out fractures compared to isolated medial (0.6%, 0.3%) or inferior (1.8%, 0.6%) blow out fractures. Therefore, careful dissection is necessary not to injure the inferior oblique muscle to decrease the incidence of postoperative diplopia. Moreover, the inlay/sheet method is an effective option for reconstruction of inferiomedial blow out fractures.

• Archives of Craniofacial Surgery
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.86-90
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• 2009

Purpose: Inferior blow-out fracture is the common facial fracture. Unsatisfactory functional and aesthetic outcomes are frequent when it is treated inappropriately. If fractures are extended and reach the posterior end of orbital floor, enophthalmos frequently followed as complication. The purpose of this study was to evaluate reduction technique of extensive inferior blow-out fracture with ballooning of foley catheter through endoscopic transnasal approach and implantation of $Medpor^{(R)}$ through subciliary approach. Methods: A retrospective study was performed on 14 patients with extensive inferior blow-out fracture who underwent ballooning of foley catheter through endoscopic transnasal approach with implantation of $Medpor^{(R)}$ through subciliary approach. Patients were operated from May 2005 to November 2007. Data for 14 patients were acquired from patient's charts. Preoperative and postoperative data for enophthalmos, diplopia, limitation of extraocular motion were reviewed. Preoperative and postoperative CT scan were also checked. The patients were followed up from 4 to 18 months. Results: The enophthalmos was corrected in all patients. Among 7 patients with diplopia preoperatively, diplopia was resolved in three patients postoperatively. The diplopia persisted in four patients and two of them also had limitation of extraocular motion postoperatively. The limitation of extraocular motion occurred in seven patients preoperatively. But five patients recovered after operation immediately. These symptoms were resolved about three months after the operation. Conclusion: The ballooning of foley catheter through endoscopic transnasal approach with implantation of $Medpor^{(R)}$ through subciliary approach can be considered one of the appropriate technique for extensive inferior blowout fracture.

• Archives of Craniofacial Surgery
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.28-32
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• 2010

Purpose: In accordance with the increasing number of accidents caused by various reasons and recently developed fine diagnostic skills, the incidence of orbital blow-out fracture cases is increasing. As it causes complications, such as diplopia and enophthalmos, surgical reduction is commonly required. This article reports a retrospective series of 5 blow-out fracture cases that had unusual nerve injuries after reduction operations. We represents the clinical experiences about treatment process and follow-up. Methods: From January 2000 to August 2009, we treated total 705 blow-out fracture patients. Among them, there were 5 patients (0.71%) who suffered from postoperative neurologic complications. In all patients, the surgery was performed with open reduction with insertion of $Medpor^{(R)}$. Clinical symptoms and signs were a little different from each other. Results: In case 1, the diagnosis was oculomotor nerve palsy. The diagnosis of the case 2 was superior orbital fissure syndrome, case 3 was abducens nerve palsy, and case 4 was idiopathic supraorbital nerve injury. The last case 5 was diagnosed as optic neuropathy. Most of the causes were extended fracture, especially accompanied with medial and inferomedial orbital blow-out fracture. Extensive dissection and eyeball swelling, and over-retraction by assistants were also one of the causes. Immediately, we performed reexploration procedure to remove hematomas, decompress and check the incarceration. After that, we checked VEP (visual evoked potential), visual field test, electromyogram. With ophthalmologic test and followup CT, we can rule out the orbital apex syndrome. We gave $Salon^{(R)}$ (methylprednisolone, Hanlim pharmaceuticals) 500 mg twice a day for 3 days and let them bed rest. After that, we were tapering the high dose steroid with $Methylon^{(R)}$ (methylprednisolon 4 mg, Kunwha pharmaceuticals) 20 mg three times a day. Usually, it takes 1.2 months to recover from the nerve injury. Conclusion: According to the extent of nerve injury after the surgery of orbital blow-out fracture, the clinical symptoms were different. The most important point is to decide quickly whether the optic nerve injury occurred or not. Therefore, it is necess is to diagnose the nerve injury immediately, perform reexploration for decompression and use corticosteroid adequately. In other words, the early diagnosis and treatment is most important.