Real Time Navigation-Assisted Orbital Wall Reconstruction in Blowout Fractures

Background:Limitation in performing restoration of orbital structures is the narrow, deep, and dark surgical field, which makes it difficult to view the operative site directly. To avoid perioperative complications from this limitation, the authors have evaluated the usefulness of computer-assisted navigation techniques in surgical treatment of blowout fracture.Methods:Total 37 patients (14 medial orbital wall fractures and 23 inferior orbital wall fractures) with facial deformities had surgical treatment under the guide of navigation system between September 2012 and January 2015.Results:All 37 patients were treated successfully and safely with navigation-assisted surgery without any complications, including diplopia, retrobulbar hematoma, globe injury, implant migration, and blindness.Conclusions:Blowout fracture can be treated safely under guidance of a surgical navigation system. In orbital surgery, navigation-assisted technology could give rise to improvements in the functional and aesthetic outcome and checking the position of the instruments on the surgical site in real time, without injuring important anatomic structures.