Intraoperative imaging O-Arm™ in secondary surgical correction of post-traumatic orbital fractures

Purpose To determine the safety and efficacy of O-Arm™ intraoperative imaging in maxillofacial surgery of post-traumatic orbital fractures. In order to ensure correct placement of titanium plate, immediately after fixing, viewable, in the axial, sagittal and coronal images. Methods The authors evaluated 5 consecutive adult patients with orbital fractures who required a reoperation involving displacement of titanium mesh between January and December 2015. The displacement or incorrect positioning of titanium mesh was detected at post-operative CT scan or clinical neurological findings. Intraoperative O-Arm™ imaging was used for our patients who underwent secondary maxillofacial orbital fracture surgery due to the failure of first surgical approach. Results An eyelid incision was performed in order to obtain maximal exposure and minimizing cosmetic defects. Any previous fixation device was skeletonized and removed, any improperly reduced fracture was mobilized, reduced and refixated with 1.5 mm plates, screws and titanium mesh. The intra-operative O-Arm™ imaging technique was used at the end of the procedures. In 4 cases it confirmed the appropriateness of the newly obtained reconstruction, in 1 case a first scan showed a suboptimal result and the devices were correctly repositioned, guided by the O-Arm™ images. Conclusions Intraoperative O-Arm™ assisted craniofacial reconstruction surgery improves the assessment of neurovascular structure decompression, skeletal fragment identification, fixation procedures and for the correct re-establishment of facial symmetry in orbital floor fractures.