Prospective multicenter study on patient-related outcomes of orbital floor reconstruction using ultrahigh-molecular-weight polyethylene
8 affiliations
- 1Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
- 2Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany
- 3Quantum, Private Practice, Heilbronn, Germany
- 4KLS Martin SE & Co. KG, Tuttlingen, Germany
- 5Department of Oral and Cranio-Maxillofacial Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, UKGM GmbH, University Hospital Marburg, Marburg, Germany
- 6Philipps-Universität Marburg, Marburg, Germany
- 7Department of Maxillofacial Surgery, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
- 8INN TAL MKG, Private Practice, Rosenheim, Germany
Abstract
This prospective, multicenter clinical study evaluated patient-reported outcomes, functional recovery, and quality of life following orbital floor reconstruction using ultra-high-molecular-weight-polyethylene (UHMWPE) implants. The study emphasized both subjective recovery and the clinical performance of the implant material. Between June 2022 and July 2023, 46 adult patients (≥ 18 years of age) with radiologically confirmed orbital floor fractures requiring surgical reconstruction were enrolled and completed the full follow-up protocol. Surgical reconstruction was performed according to standardized procedures using UHMWPE implants. Pre- and postoperative CT or CBCT imaging was obtained when clinically indicated; radiological outcomes of this cohort have been reported separately. Pre- and postoperative evaluations included an assessment of pain, swelling, ocular motility, diplopia, sensory function, foreign body sensation, overall satisfaction and orbital volume, which was measured using three-dimensional imaging. Intraoperative parameters were also recorded. Patient-reported outcomes were collected through validated questionnaires and visual analogue scales, repeated at each visit, follow-up examinations were performed approximately one day, ten weeks, six months, and twelve months after surgery. Overall, clinical and patient-reported outcomes improved over the follow-up period. Pain intensity declined markedly within the first week after surgery and remained consistently low thereafter. Swelling, numbness, and the sensation of a foreign body gradually subsided, with almost complete resolution after one year. Furthermore, imaging confirmed stable anatomical reconstruction without implant displacement or volume loss. In general patient satisfaction increased steadily throughout the observation period, reaching near-maximal levels after twelve months. No cases of infection, inflammatory reaction or implant-related complication were recorded. In this prospective cohort, orbital floor reconstruction using UHMWPE was associated with favorable functional, aesthetic and patient-reported recovery over 12 months. These findings support the value of incorporating patient-centered outcomes into the assessment of recovery after orbital trauma, while comparative effectiveness and long-term safety require further controlled studies.
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BibTeX
@article{wilhelm2026prospective,
title = {{Prospective multicenter study on patient-related outcomes of orbital floor reconstruction using ultrahigh-molecular-weight polyethylene}},
author = {Stefanie Wilhelm and Raimund Preidl and Konstantinos Afxentiou and Marco Kesting and Adem Aksu and Rainer Lutz and Lucas Ritschl and Katharina Pippich and Achim von Bomhard},
journal = {PLOS One},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1371/journal.pone.0359326},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0359326},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Prospective multicenter study on patient-related outcomes of orbital floor reconstruction using ultrahigh-molecular-weight polyethylene
AU - Stefanie Wilhelm
AU - Raimund Preidl
AU - Konstantinos Afxentiou
AU - Marco Kesting
AU - Adem Aksu
AU - Rainer Lutz
AU - Lucas Ritschl
AU - Katharina Pippich
AU - Achim von Bomhard
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/08
JO - PLOS One
DO - 10.1371/journal.pone.0359326
UR - https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0359326
AB - This prospective, multicenter clinical study evaluated patient-reported outcomes, functional recovery, and quality of life following orbital floor reconstruction using ultra-high-molecular-weight-polyethylene (UHMWPE) implants. The study emphasized both subjective recovery and the clinical performance of the implant material. Between June 2022 and July 2023, 46 adult patients (≥ 18 years of age) with radiologically confirmed orbital floor fractures requiring surgical reconstruction were enrolled and completed the full follow-up protocol. Surgical reconstruction was performed according to standardized procedures using UHMWPE implants. Pre- and postoperative CT or CBCT imaging was obtained when clinically indicated; radiological outcomes of this cohort have been reported separately. Pre- and postoperative evaluations included an assessment of pain, swelling, ocular motility, diplopia, sensory function, foreign body sensation, overall satisfaction and orbital volume, which was measured using three-dimensional imaging. Intraoperative parameters were also recorded. Patient-reported outcomes were collected through validated questionnaires and visual analogue scales, repeated at each visit, follow-up examinations were performed approximately one day, ten weeks, six months, and twelve months after surgery. Overall, clinical and patient-reported outcomes improved over the follow-up period. Pain intensity declined markedly within the first week after surgery and remained consistently low thereafter. Swelling, numbness, and the sensation of a foreign body gradually subsided, with almost complete resolution after one year. Furthermore, imaging confirmed stable anatomical reconstruction without implant displacement or volume loss. In general patient satisfaction increased steadily throughout the observation period, reaching near-maximal levels after twelve months. No cases of infection, inflammatory reaction or implant-related complication were recorded. In this prospective cohort, orbital floor reconstruction using UHMWPE was associated with favorable functional, aesthetic and patient-reported recovery over 12 months. These findings support the value of incorporating patient-centered outcomes into the assessment of recovery after orbital trauma, while comparative effectiveness and long-term safety require further controlled studies.
SN - 1932-6203
ER -