ABSTRACT
Nasoorbitoethmoid fractures account for ∼5% of adult and 15% of pediatric facial fractures.
The appropriate management of these injuries requires an understanding of the anatomic
features of the region, the classification of injury severity, assessment, and treatment
methods. The purpose of this article is to provide a general overview of the topic,
with a more specific focus on the pearls of managing these fractures. Prompt and proper
management of these injuries can achieve both adequate functional and aesthetic outcomes.
KEYWORDS
Nasoorbitoethmoid fractures - NOE fractures - facial trauma - nasolacrimal duct -
epiphora - medial canthal tendon - central fragment
REFERENCES
- 1
Murphy Jr R X, Birmingham K L, Okunski W J, Wasser T.
The influence of airbag and restraining devices on the patterns of facial trauma in
motor vehicle collisions.
Plast Reconstr Surg.
2000;
105
516-520
- 2
Kelley P, Crawford M, Higuera S, Hollier L H.
Two hundred ninety-four consecutive facial fractures in an urban trauma center: lessons
learned.
Plast Reconstr Surg.
2005;
116
42e-49e
- 3
Chapman V M, Fenton L Z, Gao D, Strain J D.
Facial fractures in children: unique patterns of injury observed by computed tomography.
J Comput Assist Tomogr.
2009;
33
70-72
- 4
Becelli R, Renzi G, Mannino G, Cerulli G, Iannetti G.
Posttraumatic obstruction of lacrimal pathways: a retrospective analysis of 58 consecutive
naso-orbitoethmoid fractures.
J Craniofac Surg.
2004;
15
29-33
- 5
Markowitz B L, Manson P N, Sargent L et al..
Management of the medial canthal tendon in nasoethmoid orbital fractures: the importance
of the central fragment in classification and treatment.
Plast Reconstr Surg.
1991;
87
843-853
- 6
Ellis III E.
Sequencing treatment for naso-orbito-ethmoid fractures.
J Oral Maxillofac Surg.
1993;
51
543-558
- 7
Paskert J P, Manson P N.
The bimanual examination for assessing instability in naso-orbitoethmoidal injuries.
Plast Reconstr Surg.
1989;
83
165-167
- 8
Gruss J S, Hurwitz J J, Nik N A, Kassel E E.
The pattern and incidence of nasolacrimal injury in naso-orbital-ethmoid fractures:
the role of delayed assessment and dacryocystorhinostomy.
Br J Plast Surg.
1985;
38
116-121
- 9
Potter J K, Muzaffar A R, Ellis E, Rohrich R J, Hackney F L.
Aesthetic management of the nasal component of naso-orbital ethmoid fractures.
Plast Reconstr Surg.
2006;
117
10e-18e
- 10
Herford A S, Ying T, Brown B.
Outcomes of severely comminuted (type III) nasoorbitoethmoid fractures.
J Oral Maxillofac Surg.
2005;
63
1266-1277
Larry H HollierJr. M.D.
Professor and Program Director, Division of Plastic Surgery, Baylor College of Medicine
6701 Fannin Street, Suite 610, Houston, TX 77030
Email: larryh@bcm.tmc.edu