DOI: 10.36347/sjams.2018.v06i07.002

Pages: 2615-2619

Ocular and periocular injuries are often encountered in major maxillofacial trauma, especially those involving the middle third of the facial region, with attendant visual impairment or blindness. The aim of this study is to retrospectively analyze the category of visual loss in patients with concomitant maxillofacial injuries seen and managed at a Nigerian tertiary health facility. All consecutive patients, with concomitant maxillofacial injuries and associated visual loss that presented to the Oral and Maxillofacial Unit and the Department of Ophthalmology of the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH), Calabar, over a 10-year period were retrospectively studied. The information obtained included patients’ demographics, aetiological factors; types of maxillofacial injury, the nature of ocular injury and best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) in the involved eyes on discharge from follow up. The data generated was subjected to statistical analysis using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20. A p value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant. A total of 1213 persons had maxillofacial related trauma over the years in review with 83(6.8%) of them having concomitant ocular or periocular injuries. Of the 83 patients who had ocular or periocular involvement, 27(32.5%), all males, with age ranging from 12-54, mean (SD) 31.0 (8.48) years had visual impairment or blindness and formed the basis of analysis of 29 eyes in our results seen over the period of study. The remaining 56(67.5%) had BCVA in the category of normal vision after discharge from care. Zygomatic complex fracture 10 (37%) and isolated orbital blow out fracture 6 (212/2%) were the commonest type of maxillofacial injury encountered. Ocular and periocular injuries occur concomitantly with maxillofacial trauma, especially those involving the mid-facial region. Ophthalmic consultation and intervention is recommended in suspected cases of orbital or ocular involvement in facia