Citation

Zachariades N, Papavassiliou D, Christopoulos P. Oral Surg. Oral Med. Oral Pathol. Oral Radiol. Endod. 1996; 81(1): 34-37.

Affiliation

Oral and Maxillofacial Clinic, K.A.T. General District Hospital, Kiffissia, Greece.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1996, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

8850480

Abstract

Blindness after facial fractures has been reported to occur with an incidence that ranges between 0.67% and 3% depending on the reporting institution. To verify this finding we undertook a retrospective chart review of 5936 patients with facial fractures that occurred over a 12 1/2-year period. We found that vision in 19 eyes were lost in 18 patients. Vision loss was more frequently encountered in Le Fort III level fractures (2.2%) followed distantly by Le Fort II level fractures (0.64%), and zygomatic fractures (0.45%). The cause of blindness was most frequently associated with motor vehicle accidents and gunshot injuries. Injuries of this type require immediate and prompt consultation by the ophthalmologic surgery service.

Language: en