Eyeing Risks: A Critical Analysis of the Use of Periorbital Steroids in Fronto-orbital Advancement.

Objective: To evaluate the outcomes associated with two techniques of periorbital steroid administration in bilateral fronto-orbital advancement (FOA).

Design: Multi-institutional retrospective chart review.

Setting: Two high volume, tertiary US craniofacial centers.

Patients, participants: Patients who underwent FOA between 2012 and 2021.

Interventions: Patients were divided into three cohorts based on method of steroid administration. Groups GEL and INJ represent those who received steroids in the form of triamcinolone soaked gelfoam or direct injection of dilute triamcinolone to the frontal/periorbital region, respectively. Group NON did not receive any periorbital steroids.

Main outcome measure(s): Peri-operative outcomes including hospital length of stay and complications were evaluated based on method of periorbital steroid administration. Variables predictive of infectious complications were assessed using stepwise logistic regression.

Results: Four hundred and twelve patients were included in our sample (INJ:249, GEL:87, NON:76). Patients in the INJ group had a higher ASA class (P < .001) while patients in the NON group were significantly more likely to be syndromic (P < .001) and have multisuture craniosynostosis (P < .001). Rate of infectious complications for each cohort were NON: 2.6%, INJ: 4.4%, and GEL: 10.3%. There was no significant difference between groups in hospital length of stay (P = .654) or rate of post-operative infectious complications (P = .061). Increased ASA class (P = .021), increased length of stay (P = .016), and increased intraoperative narcotics (P = .011) were independent predictors of infectious complications.

Conclusions: We identified a dose-dependent relationship between periorbital steroids and rate of postoperative infections, with key contributions from ASA class, hospital length of stay, and dose of intraoperative narcotics.