Orbital fractures in children

Abstract

In children, differences in the properties and proportions of bone in the craniofacial skeleton and the lack of development of the paranasal sinuses result in orbital fractures that present differently from those in adults. Facial growth may be disturbed by such injuries and also by surgical intervention, which should therefore be as conservative as possible. However, urgent operation is needed to prevent irreversible changes when fractures of the orbital floor involve entrapped muscle. We present an approach to such injuries.