Orbital Fractures in a Nigerian Tertiary Hospital: Ten-year Retrospective Study

Abstract

Background: Despite the global documentation of studies on pattern of orbital fractures, there is limited data in Nigeria. We aim to determine the pattern of orbital fracture in a Nigerian tertiary hospital. 

Materials and Methods: This retrospective study design was carried out at the department of oral and maxillofacial surgery of a Nigerian tertiary health facility from January 2012 to December 2022. All case notes of patients that had orbital fracture were recruited in the study. Those patients with incomplete information in their case notes were excluded. The data collected were age, gender, occupation, place of residence, time of trauma, cause of trauma, clinical presentation, type of orbital fracture, orbit involved, ocular injuries, mode of treatment and outcome of treatment. Descriptive statistics were performed. 

Results: A total number of 6 patients were diagnosed with orbital fracture. The age range of the patients was 15-63 years with a mean age of 39.5 ± 6.2 years. There were four (66.7%) males. Periobital edema, subconjuctival ecchymosis, rim step deformity, enophthalmos, and diplopia were recorded in four (66.7%) patients. Bilateral and right orbital fractures were seen in one case each. The left orbit was involved in four (66.7%) cases. Road traffic accidents were the cause of all (100%) injuries. All (100%) cases of orbital fracture were impure blow-out fractures. Four (66.7%) cases of these were associated with zygomatic complex fracture while two (33.3%) were associated with naso-ethmoidal fracture. All (100%) patients had open surgery using titanium mesh as implant material. Only one (16.7%) case had exposure of titanium, and this was treated with second open surgery 

Conclusion: Efforts should be geared to reducing Road traffic accidents