Orbital fractures in children.

PURPOSE: To describe the demographics, etiologic factors, clinical presentations, and outcomes of orbital fractures in children.

METHODS: This was a retrospective case series of 96 consecutive patients under 18 years of age with orbital fractures presenting to the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, including both hospitalized and nonhospitalized patients.

RESULTS: Orbital fractures in children were most frequently the result of sports, assault, or motor vehicle accident. The majority of patients did not require hospitalization and were treated as outpatients. The medial wall and floor of the orbit were the most frequent locations of fracture. Approximately half of the patients in this series required surgery, most often for entrapment. There were no cases of persistent diplopia in patients in whom surgery was performed or was not indicated. Associated ocular injuries were observed in half of the patients.

CONCLUSIONS: In this series of hospitalized and nonhospitalized patients, orbital fractures in children had a location pattern similar to that most frequently observed in adult patients (floor and medial wall). Orbital fractures in children frequently require surgery. The high prevalence of ocular injury in children with orbital fractures emphasizes the need for a comprehensive ophthalmic evaluation.