Blindness and Lefort III Fractures

Abstract

Injuries to the nasal frontal complex involve a moderately high degree of optic nerve trauma. This paper reviews opinions from notable experts in the field of maxillofacial trauma on appropriate management for acute facial fractures involving injury to the optic nerve and causing blindness in one eye. The opinions are mixed, but the overall attitude is one of conservatism. It is concluded that the weight of opinion supports a conservative approach consisting of external fixation without mobilization of the fractures, and a delayed cosmetic repair.