"Orbital Fractures Prominent in Men in Their 10s and 20s and Seniors Over 80... Caution Needed for Trauma and Falls"

Research by Professor Jeong Eun-hye at Nowon Eulji Medical Center

Eunhye Jeong, Professor of Ophthalmology at Nowon Eulji University Hospital.

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-joo] A study has found that 'orbital fractures,' where the bones surrounding the eyeball are fractured due to trauma, mainly occur in males in their teens and twenties as well as in elderly people aged 80 and above.

Professor Eunhye Jung of the Department of Ophthalmology at Nowon Eulji University Hospital revealed on the 14th that this was the result of a study on "The Epidemiology and Risk Factors of Orbital Fractures in Koreans," using sample cohort data from the National Health Insurance Service.

The orbit is the space surrounding the eyeball and its surrounding appendages. It is made up of thin bones, which can fracture when subjected to trauma such as a punch or a baseball. Fractures mainly occur in the relatively weak medial or inferior walls of the orbit. Clinically, symptoms such as eyelid swelling, diplopia, limited eye movement, and enophthalmos can occur, and the decision for surgery is made based on clinical symptoms and imaging tests.

Professor Jung examined data from one million people insured by the National Health Insurance Service. The incidence rate of orbital fractures per 100,000 person-years observed over one year for 100,000 people was on average 46.19, but it was higher in the teens and twenties age group at 55.46 to 63.35, and 56.24 in those aged 80 and above compared to other age groups. Additionally, among 2,415 orbital fracture patients in Korea, 648 (26.8%) were confirmed to have undergone surgery.

Professor Jung advised, "For young males in their teens and twenties, whose incidence is higher than the average age group, it is presumed that exposure to trauma in environments such as assault incidents, traffic accidents, sports, and industrial sites is relatively high. For those aged 80 and above, falls appear to be the main cause. Since the elderly have a high risk of various fractures including orbital fractures when falling, caution is necessary in daily life."

The paper was published in the April issue of the SCI international journal Journal of Clinical Medicine.

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