Suspect orbital floor fracture if the orbit has been affected by blunt trauma
After blunt trauma from a ball or fist, a fall or motor vehicle collision, the floor of the orbit can fracture without involving the orbital rim or other facial bones. This may occur because of a marked pressure rise within the orbit when the globe is suddenly displaced posteriorly (hydraulic theory) or direct transmission of forces to the orbital floor in an anterior–posterior direction following an impact to the orbital rim (buckling phenomenon).1
Patients present with changes in visual acuity and pain on extraocular movement
Patients usually report acute visual changes such as monocular blurred vision or binocular diplopia, and pain on extraocular movements.2 Examination of the gross anatomic integrity of the eyeball, visual acuity using an electronic application or a paper eye chart and extraocular movement in all directions of gaze should be conducted.
Noncontrast computed tomography (CT) is the diagnostic gold standard
Orbital radiographs (Caldwell and Waters views) accurately diagnose 68%–78% of fractures compared with CT and remain a useful screening modality for orbital foreign bodies.3 Noncontrast CT is the gold standard, however, and allows evaluation of the position of extraocular muscles, presence of retrobulbar hemorrhage and whether the orbital fat has herniated, which will direct management.3
Not all fractures require urgent ophthalmic assessment
Patients should be referred for urgent ophthalmology assessment when globe rupture is suspected, binocular diplopia is present when the upper eyelid is raised manually by the clinician (particularly in up gaze) in the presence of periocular edema, visual acuity is less than or equal to 20/40, or muscle entrapment on CT imaging is suspected.4 Otherwise, an outpatient referral to ophthalmology within 1 to 2 weeks is appropriate.5 Patients with isolated orbital floor fractures are safe to travel by land.
Most fractures heal spontaneously without complication
Patients should avoid forceful blowing of the nose for 4–6 weeks to avoid pneumo-orbit.2 A 7-day course of prednisone (1 mg/kg for 7 d, tapered over 4 d) administered orally with gram-positive antibiotic coverage, such as cephalexin or clindamycin, can be considered in cases of orbital edema that prevents eye opening.6
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Footnotes
Competing interests: None declared.
This article has been peer reviewed.
References
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