Resorbable polylactic acid polymer plates in repair of blow-out orbital floor fractures.

PURPOSE

To evaluate the use of the resorbable polylactic acid polymer implants (Resorb X) in the management of orbital floor blow-out fractures as regards safety, cosmetic, and functional results.

METHODS

In a prospective, interventional case series, 22 patients with traumatic blow-out floor fractures underwent lower fornix transconjunctival repair using polylactic acid implant insertion over the defect without fixation. Orbital imaging was done preoperatively, at 1 month and 1 year postoperatively with orbital computed tomography with 2 mm cuts of axial, sagittal, and coronal scans. Outcome measures included the maximum vertical height of the orbit at the fracture plane and its changes over time.

RESULTS

At the final follow-up, both limitation of elevation and diplopia improved in 82% of cases, while 63.6% of cases showed improvement of enophthalmos. Radiological restoration of the orbital vertical height was recorded in 100% of cases without implant displacement at 1 month. However, after 1 year, a significant floor bowing was found in 45.5% of cases, which showed a strong positive correlation with preoperative defect size ( = 0.820).

CONCLUSIONS

Resorb X mesh plates can be a good option for the safe reconstruction of orbital floor blow-out fractures. Good anatomical and functional results were obtained in small orbital floor defects. Late bowing under pressure may limit their use in medium-sized floor defects.