The management of orbital blowout fractures is controversial. The continuin
g debate includes the use of antibiotics and steroids, imaging, the surgica
l approach, and the choice of implant material for repair of the bony defec
t.
A cross-sectional study was undertaken to assess current practice in treati
ng orbital blowout fractures in the UK, in the form of a tick-box questionn
aire. The questionnaire contained 9 closed and 2 open questions, and was fo
rwarded to 256 practising fellows of the British Association of Oral and Ma
xillofacial Surgery. The response rate to the questionnaire was 73% (187/25
6).
There was no consensus about the use of prophylactic antibiotics. However,
91% prescribed post-operative antibiotics and over half the respondents pre
scribed steroids. The most common imaging techniques used were computed tom
ography (CT, 88%) and plain radiograph (83%), 60% routinely sought an ophth
almic opinion and 65% assessed visual acuity, The most common surgical appr
oaches were the subciliary (41%) and the infraorbital (37%), over half the
respondents preferred to operate 6-10 days after the injury, and silicone e
lastomer was the preferred implant material of 66%. (C) 2000 The British As
sociation of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons.