Use of x-ray film implant for the repair of orbital fractures.

Purpose: To evaluate the experience with sterilized x-ray film in the repair of orbital blow-out fractures (BOFs).

Methods: A retrospective review of case notes from 56 patients with orbital BOF repaired using sterilized x-ray film onlay implants at 2 institutions between November 2004 and December 2010. Patient demographics, timing of surgery, surgical approach, postoperative complications, and length of follow up were recorded.

Results: Fifty-six patients (44 men, 12 women) received sterilized x-ray film implants during the 6-year study period. Mean age at the time of repair was 29 years (range 4-85 years). For 68% of patients, surgical repair was performed within 2 weeks of injury. Average length of postoperative follow up was 5.5 months (range 1-36 months), 48% had follow up >3 months. Following surgical repair, diplopia in primary or down gaze reduced from 98% to 4% and enophthalmos ≥2 mm reduced from 21% to 5% cases. One patient required a second operation for repositioning of an incompletely reduced fracture. A second patient presented 9 months postoperatively with recurrent episodes of proptosis, and the implant and its surrounding pseudocapsule were subsequently removed. There were no cases of visual loss, implant infection, or migration.

Conclusions: This series has demonstrated that in selected orbital fractures sterilized x-ray film can provide a safe, effective, and low-cost onlay implant.