Orbital Floor Definition

This is typically caused by a direct blow to the central orbit from a fist or ball.

Orbital floor definition. Orbital floor fracture a blow to the rim of the eye socket pushes the bones back which causes the bones of the orbit floor to buckle downward. By definition an intact orbital rim. This fracture can also affect the muscles and nerves around the eye keeping it from moving properly and feeling normal. Operative intervention of orbital floor fractures is generally reserved for orbital fracture patterns that produce diplopia or clinically detectable aesthetic deformities.

When we refer to an orbital floor fracture in this text a blow out fracture is meant. An orbital blowout fracture is a traumatic deformity of the orbital floor or medial wall typically resulting from impact of a blunt object larger than the orbital aperture or eye socket most commonly the inferior orbital wall i e. Most fractures occur in the floor posterior and medial to the infraorbital groove 2. The floor inferior wall is formed by the orbital surface of maxilla the orbital surface of zygomatic bone and the minute orbital process of palatine bone.

It is estimated that about 10 of all facial fractures are isolated orbital wall fractures the majority of these being the orbital floor and that 30 40 of all. Medially near the orbital margin is located the groove for nasolacrimal duct. Orbital floor fractures may result when a blunt object which is of equal or greater diameter than the orbital aperture strikes the eye or on the cheek 1. In elderly people these breaks may result from a fall that causes their cheek to hit a piece of furniture or other hard surface.

Near the middle of the floor located infraorbital groove which leads to the infraorbital foramen. Orbital floor fracture also known as blowout fracture of the orbit eye socket. Orbital floor fractures especially blowout fractures can lead to complications including diplopia paresthesia of the infraorbital nerve and enophthalmos. The floor is likely to collapse because the bones of the roof and lateral walls are robust.

Getting hit with a baseball or a fist often causes a orbital blowout fracture. This is when a blow or trauma to the orbital rim pushes the bones back causing the bones of the eye socket floor buckle to downward. An orbital hemorrhage should be suspected if loss of vision is associated with proptosis and increased iop. In patients with orbital floor fractures visual loss can result from globe trauma injury to the optic nerve or increased orbital pressure causing a compartment syndrome discussed in the section traumatic visual loss with clear media.

Etiology fractures of the orbital floor are common. Orbital floor fractures can present as blow out fractures or in combination with a zygoma or le fort fractures.