Radiological Observations of Orbital Perimeter among South Indian population - A CT study

Introduction: The Human Orbit is a complex structure containing muscles vessels, nerves, fat and the lacrymal apparatus. The perimeter of the orbit is found to be a significant factor while planning and in placing facial implants or any in mode of facial reconstruction procedures. It plays an important role in numerous specialities such as OMFS, Ophthalmology, plastic and trauma reconstructive surgeries. While among the daily practitioners of Ophthalmology the orbital perimeters are important in more common procedures such as orbital anesthesia to avoid damage to inbuilt structures and also in procedures such as enucleation, exentration, optic nerve decompression. Aims and objectives: The present study aimed to provide morphometry of orbital perimeter using 200 CT images from the Department of Radiology, of various Radiology centers across Chennai collected retrospectively, to approximate the perimeter including the soft tissue contained thereby standing to be of greater clinical importance. Materials and methods: The parameters recorded were analysed using inbuilt CT system generated digital measures. Results: The study noted a significant difference in the morphometry between two sexes, while no significant difference was observed between the two sides. Conclusion: Accurate measurements of orbital parameters are important in facial reconstructive procedures and maxillofacial surgeries. They are also important in designing protective eye wear. Therefore, during structuring of implants of the zygoma and structures around the orbit the race and sex needs to be kept in mind as it is a factor for Morphometric variations thus seen.