Orbital fractures are traumatic injuries usually caused by assaults, sports, or accidents. It occurs when one breaks one or more bones that make up the eye socket/eyeball such as a hard blow to the face. When this happens, an ophthalmologist examines the eye and surrounding areas and, if needed, does computed tomography, X-rays, and CT scans.
Additionally, they measure the eye position to see if it is appropriately located in the eye socket. As treatment options are dependent on the type of injury and its severity, the treatment process looks different for each case. Let’s take a look at how ophthalmologists approach this.
Types of Orbital Fractures
There are three types of orbital (eye socket) fractures, namely:
- Blowout fractures – These are often caused by getting hit with a baseball or fist and cause a break of the thin inner floor or wall of the eye socket.
- Orbital rim fracture – These types of fractures are caused by car accidents and, most of the time, affect the thick bone of the outer edges of the eye socket.
- Orbital floor fracture – This type is caused by a blow to the rim of the eye socket, a fall, or a hard surface that pushes the bones back. This results in the bones of the orbit floor buckling downward.
Orbital Fractures Diagnosis
When diagnosing an orbital fracture, an ophthalmologist carefully examines the injury, including the facial bones, eyelids, and surrounding soft tissue. In addition, they check to see if the eye moves as it should and if there are problems with vision. The orbit scan is confirmed by computed tomography to settle on a definitive diagnosis.
What do the Diagnostic Investigations Involve?
The steps in this process includes:
- CT scans of the orbit
- X-ray of the face
- MRI of the orbit
- Forced duct test
- Orthoptic test
- Ultrasonographic orbital scanning
Orbital Fractures Treatment
Depending on the type and severity of the injury, your doctor may recommend immediate medications, or in the case of severe swelling, they may ask you to wait for the swelling to reduce before anything is done. To prevent further swelling, keep your head raised above your heart. Let’s look at the treatment options for orbital fractures.
Treatments Options Include:
- Ice packs – Human beings have antibodies that help fight diseases. On the other hand, cold helps reduce swelling; therefore, the injury heals on its own with a combination of cold and antibodies.
- Medications – Drugs such as antibiotics and decongestants, when prescribed, may help ease swelling symptoms and reduce infections, increasing the healing process.
- Surgery – When a surgical procedure is done, it repairs the tissue prolapse and the orbital wall, and in severe cases, sometimes, an implant is placed to create a new orbital wall.
How can TN Oculoplastics Help With Orbital Fractures?
Orbital fractures may cause double vision, pain with eye movements, and restriction of extraocular muscle movements if not addressed in time. Therefore, when you get involved in an accident, you should see a doctor for consultation immediately.
Oculoplastic surgeons perform orbital fracture reconstruction procedures, including various procedures on the tear duct, eyelids, orbit, and face. If you delay seeing the doctor, fibrosis between the sinus mucosa, orbital tissues, and bone fragments may complicate the medical procedure.
TN Oculoplastics has some of the best Nashville surgeons who are surgical experts in their respective fields. We practice and deliver the most specialized medical procedures of the modern era. And oculoplastics are one of them.
Learn more and contact TN Oculoplastics today!