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Blow-Out Fracture Updated 12/2010

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BASICS

  • Description
  • Etiology

DIAGNOSIS

  • Signs and Symptoms
  • Tests
  • Differential Diagnosis

TREATMENT

  • Pre-hospital
  • Initial Stabilization
  • ED Treatment
  • Medication (Drugs)
  • In-patient Considerations

Ongoing Care

  • Follow-Up Recommendations
The following is an excerpt....
BASICS
Description
  • Defined as an orbital floor fracture without orbital rim involvement
  • Results from sudden blunt trauma to the globe:
    • Typically caused by the force of a projectile >half the size of the fist
  • Force transmitted through the noncompressible structures of the globe to the weakest structural point: The orbital floor
  • Transmitted force “blows out” or fractures the orbital floor.
  • Orbital floor serves as roof to air-filled maxillary and ethmoid sinuses:
    • Communication between the spaces results in orbital emphysema.
  • Orbit contains fat, which holds the globe in place:
    • Orbital floor fracture may result in herniation of the fat on the inferior orbital surface into the maxillary or ethmoid sinuses.
    • Leads to enophthalmos owing to orbital volume loss and sinus ...

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See Also
Images >
orbital floor blow-out fracture: Waters view on plain film shows major findings associated with an orbital floor blow-out injury: disruption of orbital floor (arrowheads), soft-tissue mass in the superior aspect of maxillary sinus (open arrow), and maxillary sinus fluid level (closed arrow)Credit: NA