Evaluation of gender and age differences in orbital symmetry for mirrored implant feasibility: A multicenter study

Abstract

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the anatomical symmetry of the left and right orbital cavities to assess the reliability of mirror-image-generated implants for orbital fracture repair, a common approach in reconstructive surgery. Methods: In a multicenter retrospective analysis, maxillofacial CT and CBCT images from 78 patients were examined to assess differences in the volumetric and linear dimensions of the right and left orbital cavities. Standardized volumetric and linear measurements in both the coronal and sagittal planes were conducted. Statistical analyses were conducted to determine the significance of differences across gender and age groups. Results: The study population had a mean age of 41.73 years, with 42% male and 58% female patients. No statistically significant differences in the orbital volume were found between the right (24.23 ± 2.62) and left (23.48 ± 2.53) sides (p = 0.219). Coronal plane measurements, including the orbital floor length (D1) and medial wall length (D2), similarly showed no significant differences between the two sides. In the sagittal plane, minor variations were observed, with average differences not exceeding 0.5 mm in most dimensions. Gender-based and age-based subgroup analyses further revealed no statistically significant differences in orbital measurements across groups, supporting the acceptance of anatomical symmetry between the left and right orbital cavities. Conclusion: The findings indicate that the left and right orbital cavities can be considered symmetrical with respect to volume and linear measurements, validating the use of mirror-image-generated implants for reconstructive purposes. The minor variations observed in the linear dimensions did not compromise the clinical reliability of this approach, supporting its continued application in orbital fracture repair.