Isolated orbital blowout fractures: survey and review

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.