Post-traumatic orbital floor reconstruction with nasoseptal cartilage in children.

OBJECTIVE

Repair of orbital floor fractures may require the placement of a graft or implant. Both autogenous and alloplastic materials have been used for this purpose. This article reports the use of nasal septal cartilage for the repair of orbital floor defect secondary to blunt facial trauma in children.

METHODS

Three children with disruption of the orbital floor after facial trauma were included in this prospective review. All children underwent open reduction with rigid fixation of the facial fractures and reconstruction of the orbital floor with nasoseptal cartilage.

RESULTS

All of the cases were successfully treated by restoration of the orbital floor continuity. On follow-up clinical examination, one patient had persistent mild enophthalmus.

CONCLUSIONS

Nasal septal cartilage is a readily accessible autogenous material with minimal donor site morbidity, and should be considered when an autogenous orbital implant is needed for the repair of a traumatic orbital floor defect.