Orbital fractures are breaks in the bones surrounding the eye, usually after blunt trauma. They can affect eye movement, appearance, and sometimes vision.
Types and symptoms
Common patterns include “blow-out” fractures of the orbital floor or medial wall.
- Pain, bruising, and swelling around the eye after injury
- Double vision, restricted eye movement, or a sunken eye enophthalmos
- Numbness of the cheek or upper lip from infraorbital nerve involvement
- CT imaging defines fracture size, location, and muscle entrapment
Treatment
Management depends on severity and symptoms.
- Observation for small, non-displacing fractures without double vision
- Surgical repair when there is muscle entrapment, significant enophthalmos, or persistent diplopia
- Avoidance of nose blowing and treatment of associated sinus issues
- Regular follow-up with ophthalmology and maxillofacial or oculoplastic teams
