Objective:

To describe the efficacy of the transconjunctival approach in orbital and orbital floor fractures and the possible complications associated with this approach.

Material and method:

This is a retrospective descriptive study based on 98 patients with orbital fractures where the transconjunctival approach was used in the Maxillofacial Surgery Service of Mutual de Seguridad Hospital, Santiago - Chile, between January 2012 and April 2017. The success rate of this technique and the variables with greater predisposition to generate complications were determined. The inclusion criteria were patients with fractures of the maxillofacial complex with involvement of one or more orbital walls. Fisher's test was used for the data analysis, p - value <0.05 being significant.

Results:

Results obtained in our study demonstrate a high success rate (94%) in relation to the transconjunctival approach used for orbitozygomatic complex fractures treatments, with few complications observed (6%). Using the Fisher's test, complications were associated with complex maxillofacial fractures due to high energy accidents, which resulted in great destruction of the orbital complex, frequently affecting the lacrimal apparatus, in reinterventions using the same approach access and in variations of the technique in which the transconjunctival approach with lateral cantotomy and / or retrocaruncular extension was used.

Conclusions:

The transconjunctival approach is an excellent alternative in orbitozygomatic maxilar complex fractures, especially to access the orbital floor and the infraorbital rim, due to its minimal complications and favorable prognosis.

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