Comparison of Anatomical Maxillary Sinus Implant and Polydioxanone Sheets in Treatment of Orbital Floor Blowout Fractures: A Retrospective Cohort Study

TL;DR

This study compares two treatments for orbital floor fractures and finds the maxillary sinus implant to be more effective for eye recovery.

Contribution

The study provides a long-term comparison of Krenkel’s implant and PDS sheets for treating orbital floor blowout fractures.

Findings

Defect size and hernia volume correlated with preoperative eye symptoms.

The implant group had lower mild visual impairment (14.8%) compared to the PDS group (28.6%).

No severe diplopia was observed in either group at follow-up.

Abstract

Background: Orbital floor blowout fractures (OFBF) can have serious consequences for the patient. Selecting the right treatment method and materials is essential. Krenkel’s maxillary sinus implant has been used successfully for more than 40 years in clinical practice. The aim of this study was to evaluate the long-term outcome of this implant compared to polydioxanone (PDS) sheets. Material and methods: This retrospective study examined a cohort of 82 OFBF patients over a seven-year period. Clinical and geometric data were collected. Defect size, location, and the volume of the herniated tissue were measured from conventional computer tomography (CT) or cone beam computer tomography (CBCT) scans. The relationship between ophthalmologic rehabilitation and treatment modality was analyzed using logistic regression. Results: The study included 82 patients, 28% female and 72% male, with a median age of 45.2 years. Defect size and hernia volume correlated with preoperative ophthalmological symptoms. At follow-up, 14.8% in the implant group and 28.6% in the PDS group showed mild visual impairment, with no severe diplopia. Conclusions: Our results suggest this method is a reliable and effective solution for repairing OFBFs and ophthalmologic rehabilitation. However, further research in a clinical controlled trial is needed.

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