The oculomotor after effects of the fractures of the floor of the orbit

Purpose: Fractures of the orbit floor have very disabling oculomotor after effects. The objective of this study was to report that close collaboration between the maxillo-facial specialist and ophthalmologist is necessary to avoid oculomotor after effects. Methods and patients : Our study included 10 cases of the fracture of the o rbit floor. These cases were recorded between 1992 and 1996. Results : This pathology affected young subjects aged between 20 and 40 yea rs in 70 % of the cases. 80 % of the subjects were males. 90 % of the patie nts presented a vertical diplopia as a result of a transitory oculomotor de ficit. 20 % of the subjects presented a permanent oculomotor deficit at the stage of after effects. Ail these deficits were of a mechanical origin and , contrary to other authors, we found no deficit with nervous sensory origi n. Conclusion : Therapeutic success is based on early diagnosis and treatment that requires close collaboration between the maxillo-facial and ophthalmol ogy teams.