Biomechanical assessment of orbital fractures using patient-specific models and clinical matching

INTRODUCTION: Orbital wall fractures consider one of the most common fractures in the maxillofacial trauma. These fractures caused by two mechanisms, the buckling mechanism and hydraulic mechanism. This study aims to compare between the two mechanisms in terms of intensity and extension using the finite elements method. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Three-dimensional model of the skull was generated using computed tomography data of young male patient. Virtual loads were applied on the eyeball and the infra-orbital rim separately. Von Mises stresses were examined in each simulation. RESULTS: The simulation predicted fractures on the infra-orbital rim and orbital floor when simulating the hydraulic mechanism, and on the orbital floor and mesial wall when simulating the buckling mechanism. CONCLUSION: Biomechanical studies are essential part in understanding maxillofacial fractures mechanisms. The results confirmed and ascertained what is seen clinically, and explained clearly the two mechanisms of orbital fractures.