Infraorbital Nerve Decompression for Infraorbital Neuralgia/Causalgia following Blowout Orbital Fractures: A Case Series

Cranial Maxillofac Trauma Reconstruction DOI: 10.1055/s-0036-1592095The purpose of this study was to present the management of a series of patients referred with infraorbital nerve paraesthesia that developed after insignificant orbital floor fracture without diplopia or exophthalmos, and that did not require initial surgical repair. This is a retrospective interventional case series. The main outcome and measures were assessment of preoperative symptoms including neuralgia and sensory symptoms; review of periorbital computed tomography (CT) scans; and assessment of postoperative effects of surgery for infraorbital nerve decompression. Nine patients were identified who developed neuralgia affecting the infraorbital nerve distribution from a cohort of 79 patients who presented with orbital floor fracture. Six were female and three were male. Age range was 22 to 73 years with a mean of 48 years. Six patients were clinically depressed due to the chronic pain. In addition, two patients had dizziness on upgaze; one patient had blurring of central vision on eye movements; and one patient had mood swings. Reviews of CT scans revealed subtle disruption of the infraorbital canal in all cases. All nine patients underwent infraorbital nerve decompression. Abnormal adhesions between the nerve and its bony canal were found in five of nine cases. Follow-up ranged from 3 to 37 months (mean: 18 months). Following surgery, after a variable period of time ranging from 1 day to 3 months, all pa...

Source: Craniomaxillofacial Trauma and Reconstruction - October 16, 2016 Category: ENT & OMF Authors: Beigi, Bijan Beigi, Mazda Niyadurupola, Nuwan Saldana, Manuel El-Hindy, Nabil Gupta, Deepak Tags: Original Article Source Type: research