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CLINICAL STUDY

Application of Three-Dimensional Printing Technology


in the Orbital Blowout Fracture Reconstruction
Xiang Zhang, MM, Wei Chen, MD,y Ting-Yuan Luo, MM,z Juan Ma, MM, Zhen Dong, MM,y
Gang Cao, MD,y Jin-ke Xu, MM,y Bin-Yao Liu, MM,y Qi-Rui Zhang, MM,§ and Sen-Lin Zhang, MDy

individual titanium mesh is appropriate for use in orbital blowout


Abstract: The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical fracture.
outcomes of orbital blowout fracture repair by using the three-
dimensional (3D) printing-assisted fabrication of individual tita-
nium mesh. Clinical and radiologic data were analyzed for 12 Key Words: Diplopia, enophthalmos, orbital blowout fracture,
patients with orbital floor and/or medial wall fractures. Lower three-dimension printing (3D printing), titanium mesh
eyelid incision was used to expose the fractures. Preoperative (J Craniofac Surg 2019;30: 1825–1828)
computed tomographic data were input into an imaging software
to rebuild a 3D orbit and mirror the unaffected side into the
affected side to replace the demolished orbit. A resin model of the
reshaped orbit was generated and used to develop an individual
D iplopia is one of the common complications of blowout
fractures. Limited ductions occur in the field of the antagonist
muscle due to restriction of the entrapped muscle.1 Ocular motil-
titanium mesh for repairing the fractured orbital. The surgical ity disturbances are caused not only by the entrapment of rectus
results were assessed by value of enophthalmos and a comparison muscles and soft tissues, but also by hemorrhage, muscle edema,
of preoperative and postoperative orbital volume difference. All muscle fibrosis, and motor nerve palsies.2,3 Diplopia and
patients had a successful treatment outcome without any com- enophthalmos in the presence of orbital wall fracture are the main
plications. Clinical significant enophthalmos were not observed indications for surgical intervention. The orbital floor and medial
wall are common sites of facial bone fracture and may cause
after treatment, and diplopia were solved within 2 weeks postop-
serious functional impairment.4 Numerous cases of reconstruc-
erative. No extraocular muscle limitation was observed. Postop- tive implant use have been described in the literature.5 The repair
erative computed tomography scans demonstrated appropriate of orbital floor and medial wall fractures is difficult due to the
positioning of titanium mesh and there was no implant displace- complex anatomy involved and the limited intraoperative view.6
ment. The postoperative orbital volume and enophthalmos differ- Meticulous imaging and clinical examination are indispensable
ence between the 2 eyes decreased significantly than preoperative for treatment planning, to restore orbital volume and shape.
(P < 0.001). Three-dimensional printing-assisted fabrication of Inaccurate surgical techniques and unfitting implants may lead
to visual disturbances and unaesthetic results.7 Computer-assisted
three-dimensional (3D) treatment planning and individual poly-
amide models are routinely used to achieve stable reconstruction
and adequate postoperative results. Then the contemporary stan-
dardized titanium meshes are manually adjusted to fit the indi-
vidual polyamide models of patients.8 These easily manufactured,
From the The Affiliated Stomatological Hospital of Soochow University, ready-made patient-specific implants facilitate a more cost-
Suzhou, Jiangsu; yDepartment of Stomatology, Jinling Hospital, School
and time-effective operating procedure. Here we reported our
of Medicine, Nanjing University, Nanjing; zHuizhou Stomatological
Hospital, Jinan University, Huizhou; and §Department of Medical surgical strategy for orbital blowout fractures according to the
Imaging, Jinling Hospital, Nanjing College of Clinical Medicine, South- fracture location.
ern Medical University, Nanjing, China.
Received February 3, 2019.
Accepted for publication March 8, 2019. MATERIALS AND METHODS
Address correspondence and reprint requests to Wei Chen, MD and Sen-
Lin Zhang, MD, Department of Stomatology, Jinling Hospital, School Data Collection
of Medicine, Nanjing University, 305 East Zhongshan Road, Nanjing From May 2014 to May 2018, at Department of Stomatology,
210002, Jiangsu, China; E-mail: rollphy@aliyun.com; Jinling Hospital, School of Medicine, Nanjing University, China, a
doczhangsl@gmail.com
XZ, WC, and T-YL equally contributed to this work.
total of 12 patients with diplopia and (or) enophthalmos due to
This study was supported by grants from the Project of Invigorating Health orbital blowout fracture were included in this study. This investiga-
Care through Science, Technology and Education of Jiangsu Province tion was approved by the Ethics Committee on Human Study at
(Grant no. QNRC2016907). This investigation was approved by the Jinling Hospital (Approved No. 2014-135). Follow-up data were
Ethics Committee on Human Study at Jinling Hospital (Approved No. obtained in all patients using the clinical chart notes, correspon-
2014-135). The authors report no conflicts of interest. dence with the referring physician, the patient, or the patient’s
Supplemental digital contents are available for this article. Direct URL family. Surgery notes were reviewed for technical details of incision
citations appear in the printed text and are provided in the HTML and and titanium mesh implantation. Follow-up data including func-
PDF versions of this article on the journal’s Web site (www.jcraniofa- tional results (ocular motility, improvement of diplopia), orbital
cialsurgery.com).
Copyright # 2019 by Mutaz B. Habal, MD
volume, and enophthalmus were collected. Functional results were
ISSN: 1049-2275 subjectively assessed by the surgeons. Follow-up time was mea-
DOI: 10.1097/SCS.0000000000005574 sured from the date of the surgery until the date of the last contact.

The Journal of Craniofacial Surgery  Volume 30, Number 6, September 2019 1825
Copyright © 2019 Mutaz B. Habal, MD. Unauthorized reproduction of this article is prohibited.
Zhang et al The Journal of Craniofacial Surgery  Volume 30, Number 6, September 2019

Patient Characteristics position, and size as well as scope of the defect, according to
All of our patients were adult Chinese. The age of patients at the shape bending titanium mesh (thickness of 0.4 mm; Matrix-
presentation ranged from 19 to 51 years (mean was 33.7 years) (see MIDFACE, 04.503.801, Swiss Synthes Company). Preoperative
Supplemental Digital Content, Table 1, http://links.lww.com/SCS/ titanium meshes were clean with ultrasonic oscillation, regular
A506). Out of the 12 patients, there were 9 males and 3 female. The disinfection, and ready for use. Overextended titanium meshes
main presenting symptom in all 12 patients were diplopia and were easily reduced in size with pincers and manual adjustment,
enophthalmus. The cause of fractures were traffic accident, fist although, to a lesser degree, compared with standardized titanium
or kick trauma, and fallen. All patients had preoperative and meshes. Comparing with the resin model, we shape the titanium
postoperative computed tomography (CT) images. Eligibility cri- mesh to make its size 1 to 2 mm beyond the fracture zone. The need
teria include the following: CT examination showed the orbital wall for manual adjustment should be avoided by meticulous preoper-
fracture, both of the 2 eyeballs are not broken and not with other ative titanium mesh planning.
maxillofacial fractures. Surgical indications are follows: (1) limited
eye movements, (2) diplopia, (3) CT examination clearly showed Surgical Procedure
fracture under the orbital wall and/or orbital medial wall. Operation The procedure was performed with the patient under general
time after trauma: 9 cases within 1 week of injury, 2 cases within 1 anesthesia in all cases. We used the lower eyelid incision. The skin
to 4 weeks, and 1 case received surgery at 2 months. incision was placed 2 mm below the lash line, starting medially
below the level of the lacrimal punctum and following the limbus
Orbital Volume Measurements palpebralis to the level of the lateral canthus. First, after the skin
Three-dimensional CT images (Siemens SOMATOM Sensation and the orbicularis oculi muscle were incised, the orbital septum
64 CT, Munich, Germany) were obtained in continuous 1.0-mm- was incised horizontally to expose aponeurotic fat. The aponeuro-
thick axial and coronal slices. In these cases, the patients underwent sis and lower eyelid retractor were dissected to expose the orbital
CT scans within 1 week of injury and at 3 months after surgical fat. The globe was pressed gently, enabling the excessively herni-
treatment. Boundary of the orbital content including the implant ated orbital soft tissues to protrude. The periorbital floor was
was traced on each image with the SIEMENS Syngo via VB30. The incised. The bone fragments and the periorbita were stripped
volume of orbital cavity was calculated by multiplying the orbital out from the front to the deep orbita carefully. Thus, the entire
area by the thickness of each scan slice; the sum of volumes of the floor wall was exposed from the low edge of orbita to the neuro-
scan slices was used to compute the volume occupied by the vascular bundle. Next, the lower lid and inner canthus were
measured structure in each orbit. By this measurement, the bilateral retracted with saddle retractor. With a malleable retractor and a
orbital volumes of preoperative and postoperative patients were thin periosteal elevator, we separated the herniated orbital soft
obtained. Left and right sides of the orbital volume of the normal tissues of the medial orbita from the medial wall, enlarging the
people are exactly equal.9 Therefore, using destroyed side of orbital access inferiorly and medially. Thus, both the floor wall and the
volume to minus the healthy side of orbital volume is the orbital medial wall were exposed. After exposing all the margins of bony
volume difference. defect, the herniated orbital soft tissues were reduced carefully
from the maxillary and ethmoid sinus using 2 thin periosteal
elevators. The reduction was maintained with a wider malleable
Eyeball Protrusion Measurements retractor, and the periosteal elevators were removed. Finally, we
We measured the 2 sides of eyeball protrusion before surgery. inserted the individual titanium mesh. The malleable retractor was
Three months after operation, we measured the data again. In CT, then removed. A forced duction test was performed and compared
axial images displayed the largest diameter of eyeball. If the injured with the test performed before the implant was inserted ensuring
eyeball had any invagination, then we selected a level in the there was no resistance. One-point fixation at the anterior edge of
maximum diameter between 2 sides of the eyeball to make the the implant using 1 to 4 screws may be necessary. Hemostasis was
eye section symmetry on both sides. We measured the vertical achieved with careful electrocautery. The muscle and the skin were
distance between the highlight point of corneal and the front side of closed carefully.
bilateral orbital rim, as eyeball protrusion degree values.10 The
difference of the axial globe positions between the affected and
unaffected side was recorded. Therefore, using healthy side of Statistical Analysis
eyeball protrusion degree values to minus the destroyed side one Data were analyzed using SPSS 17.0 statistical software (SPSS
is the eyeball protrusion difference. Inc., Chicago, IL). Data were tested for statistical significance using
linear regression. All P values were two-sided, and significance was
defined as P < 0.05.
Data Analysis, 3D Printing Model, and Titanium
Mesh Fabricating RESULTS
Preoperative CT data were processed to generate a 3D recon- All patients underwent reconstruction of the medial wall fractures alone
struction of both affected and unaffected orbit, using the non- or together with floor fractures, via individual titanium mesh using a 3D
affected orbit as a template. Geomagic Studio12.0 software was printer, using a lower eyelid incision. Computed tomography scans
used along the midline skull vector to resect the lateral half of the were performed preoperatively and postoperatively to show accurate fit
eye socket. The mirror tool on a shaft centerline was used to copy of the titanium mesh after surgical treatment. All individually manu-
and replace the contra lateral eye socket resulting in normal factured titanium meshes were inserted without difficulty obviating the
bilateral vision. The 3D model used a methodical system based need for manual adjustment. Follow-up periods ranged from 6 to
on imaging data before and after, using a rapid prototyping 54 months (median, 25 months). The preoperative orbital volume
machine (Makerbot Replicator 2X, the United States) to accumu- (2.57  0.43 mL) was significantly higher than the postoperative value
late resin. According to the preoperative CT scan, we measured (0.09  0.60 mL) (P < 0.001) (see Supplemental Digital Content,
the size of the bone defect. The size of the titanium mesh was a Table 2, http://links.lww.com/SCS/A506). The postoperative eyeball
little larger than the defect. Reference and orbital fracture models protrusion (2.21  0.90 mm) was also significantly higher than the
of CT images reflected the orbital wall model calibration, preoperative value (0.12  0.50 mm) (P < 0.001) (see Supplemental

1826 # 2019 Mutaz B. Habal, MD

Copyright © 2019 Mutaz B. Habal, MD. Unauthorized reproduction of this article is prohibited.
The Journal of Craniofacial Surgery  Volume 30, Number 6, September 2019 3D Printing Helps Reconstruction of Orbital Wall

orbital wall reconstruction with a titanium mesh were performed


3 days after admission to hospital. Postoperative CT demonstrated
signal reduction of the soft tissues and reconstruction of the medial
orbital wall in the anatomical position without muscle injury or intra
orbital hematoma (Fig. 2D–F). Postoperative diplopia and
enophthalmos were resolved completely after 2 weeks. The value
of the affected orbital volume is 23.81 mL and its eyeball protrusion
is 17.74 mm postoperative. Three months later, the postoperative
scar on the lower eyelid was inconspicuous (Fig. 1D).

DISSCUSION
Diplopia, ocular motility disorders, and enophthalmos are common
FIGURE 1. Schematic diagram of a typical clinical case. A resin model was
complications of blowout fractures. Limited ductions occur in the
created, based on the data mirrored from the nonaffected orbit, and the field of antagonist muscle due to restriction of the entrapped
individual titanium mesh was developed (A). Individual titanium mesh was used muscle. Ocular motility disturbances are caused not only by the
in the operation to reconstruct the orbital wall (B). Open-eye views of entrapment of rectus muscles and soft tissues, but also by muscle
preoperative (C) and postoperative at 3 months (D). The scar of the left-side
lower eyelid incision was almost invisible.
edema, muscle fibrosis, hemorrhage, and motor nerve palsies.
Diplopia and enophthalmos in the presence of orbital floor and
medial wall fractures are the main indications for surgical inter-
Digital Content, Table 3, http://links.lww.com/SCS/A506). No com- vention.11 Strong indications for operative intervention include
plications including blindness, infection of implanted material, implant diplopia in the primary field of gaze that fails to resolve after 2
migration, postoperative mydriasis, epiphora, or worsening of diplopia weeks, enophthalmos >2 mm during the first week, or severe
were seen. None of the patients reported sensations indicative of hypoglobus, all of above often indicated that there were a enlarged
foreign bodies or visual impairment. No visual impairments were orbital volume than 2 to 3 mL. In 2007, early intervention has
reported after 2 weeks. After 3 months, the patient showed an excellent become preferable because late repairs were found to be associated
cosmetic result with an inconspicuous scar. with the adhesion and fibrosis of injured orbital tissues.12 The
primary goal of orbital wall fracture reconstruction is the restoration
of the bony orbit shape and volume, the latter is a more significant
Typical Clinical Case factor for late enophthalmos deformity.13,14
This case concerns a 42-year-old woman sustained a left facial Several surgical approaches have been reported for the medial
injury from a traffic accident. Two months later, she complained of orbital wall including medial canthal incision (Lynch incision),
discomfort and diplopia. Clinical symptoms demonstrated a little medial conjunctival incision, inferior conjunctival incision, sub-
enophthalmos and a 1.5 cm scar in the left upper eyelid (Fig. 1C). ciliary incision, intranasal approach, lid crease incision, and bicor-
The CT findings showed a blowout fracture associated with the onal incision. Generally, repairing orbital medial wall factures
floor and medial wall of the left orbit (Fig. 2A–C). There was lateral includes subciliary and medial canthus, transnasal–transethmoidal,
limitation of ocular motion. The value of the affected orbital volume and transcaruncular approaches with medial brow and conjunctival
is 27.06 mL, whereas the unaffected side is 24.01 mL preoperative. incisions.
The value of the affected eyeball protrusion is 15.54 mm, whereas The medial canthal incision, which was first reported as a Lynch
the unaffected side is 17.78 mm preoperative. Open reduction and incision, provides extensive exposure to the medial wall for com-
plete reconstruction.15 However, it requires detachment of the
medial canthal tendon for wide exposure, with a possible disloca-
tion of the tendon or telecanthus. Furthermore, the direction of the
incision runs vertical to the relaxed skin tension lines on the medial
orbital area. Therefore, the possibility of scar widening, hypertro-
phy, or webbing deformity is not low. Several modifications were
reported to solve these challenges, but without any photographic
evidence to support postoperative cosmetic outcomes. To circum-
vent the scar, the medial brow incision is recommended. However,
it results in the risk of permanent numbness of the medial forehead
caused by supratrochlear nerve injury. Also, exposure of the entire
medial wall and insertion of a large implant through a small incision
are difficult.
The transconjunctival approach has become increasingly popu-
lar since its original description in 1924. It provides excellent
cosmetic results without external scar formation. It offers a good
approach to the inferior orbital wall due to a markedly lower risk of
lower eyelid retraction compared with the transcutaneous
approach.16 It offers superior visualization when a lateral canthot-
omy is performed but only limited exposure to the medial orbital
FIGURE 2. Computed tomography scan images of orbital wall restoring surgery wall. The medial canthal tendon hinders the surgical approach.
of a typical clinical case. The fractured orbital walls were restored with the Therefore, insertion of a large implant is difficult. Furthermore,
combined 3D-dimension printing-assisted fabrication of individual titanium
mesh with lower eyelid incision. Preoperative (A–C) and postoperative (D–F)
patients might complain of a foreign body sensation or exudate
CT scan of inferomedial orbital wall fracture in transection, coronal, and 3D caused by postoperative conjunctival irritation, with possible con-
reconstruction. junctival granuloma, entropion, or conjunctival inclusion cyst.

# 2019 Mutaz B. Habal, MD 1827


Copyright © 2019 Mutaz B. Habal, MD. Unauthorized reproduction of this article is prohibited.
Zhang et al The Journal of Craniofacial Surgery  Volume 30, Number 6, September 2019

The upper eyelid crease approach enables reconstruction of the lower eyelid incision, the skin scar still exists. Third, the lower
moderate-to-severe blowout fractures of the medial orbital wall eyelid incision showed a little limitation of the surgical field, so we
by creating a 2- to 3-mm superomedial extension incision. The must place the titanium mesh in the operative site by rotating.
advantages of this approach include invisible incision line and Fourth, the case numbers are still a little. We hypothesized that there
extension of the thin upper eyelid skin along with an inconspicuous shall be a significant linear dependence between the decreased
postoperative scar. This approach provides a wide surgical field and orbital volume and the changed axial globe position when the
a large implant insertion with a relatively small incision. Dissection patient numbers are large enough. This method still needs larger
is simple and easy, so beginners can perform dissection without clinical practice to prove its reliability.
difficulty. However, for surgeons with surgical training in other
specialties, it may be unfamiliar of performing incision on the globe CONCLUSIONS
and may present disadvantages. A 3D printing-assisted design of individual titanium mesh com-
Intranasal endoscopy provides the best cosmetic result without bined with lower eyelid incision was used to reconstruct blowout
external scar formation and with minimal possibility of implant fracture of the medial orbital wall. This approach provided fast,
extrusion. It eradicates the concomitant abnormalities in the eth- easy, and adequate exposure of the medial orbital wall with virtually
moid.17 The primary surgical approach is to support the medial side no globe manipulation. It brought precise anatomical reconstruction
of affected orbital with a nasopore. However, there is a learning of the medial wall with proper insertion of a large implant. It also
curve, with the possibility of serious complications such as leakage gives an excellent cosmetic result with an inconspicuous scar. In
of cerebrospinal fluid, infection from packing the ethmoidal sinus, combination with lower eyelid incision, the technique facilitates
and injury to the extraocular muscle. Disadvantages include the precise reconstruction of medial orbital fractures using a complete
need for removal of the implant in a secondary operation and the digital workflow and may be considered as a reliable, primary
difficulty in reconstructing a large defect of the medial orbital wall. treatment for blowout fractures of the medial orbital wall.
Endoscopic transnasal approaches provide a clear view of the
orbital wall from the paranasal sinuses, resulting in accurate
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1828 # 2019 Mutaz B. Habal, MD

Copyright © 2019 Mutaz B. Habal, MD. Unauthorized reproduction of this article is prohibited.

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