The correlations between the CT scan and Clinical Findings of Blow-out Orbital Fractures

Purpose: To find out the relationship between signs of orbital blow out fracture (OBF) and orbital trap door fracture (OTF) and orbital CT scan findings Methods: In this case series, 100 patients with OBF and 15 patients with OTF were enrolled. Fracture diagnosis was performed based on detailed clinical examination and orbital CT scan. Then, the location and area of fracture and volume of soft tissue herniation into the maxillary sinus were calculated based on the CT scans.Results: Enophthalmos was observed in 81%, diplopia in 78%, dystopia in 62%, restricted ocular motility in 51% and herniation in 55% of the patients with of BOF. There was a significant correlation between severity of enophthalmos and fracture area as well as herniated soft tissue volume (P <0.05). Also, the fracture distance from the orbital rim showed significant reverse correlations with diplopia (P = 0.02) and dystopia (P = 0.04). Diplopia was seen in 80% of the patients with OTF, while none of them manifested enophthalmos and dystopia Conclusion: It seems that the degree of enophthalmos and presence of diplopia and dystopia might reflect the location and area of the BOF (but not OTF) fractures.