Morphometric Study of the Orbit and Its Surgical Implications Among Adults in Gombe State University Teaching Hospital

The bony orbit houses the eyeball and its associated structures, and its precise morphometry is critical for planning orbital surgeries, designing ocular prostheses, and interpreting computed tomography scans. Orbital dimensions vary across ethnic groups, and the use of non-Nigerian norms in ophthalmic surgical planning may result in prosthetic misfits or suboptimal surgical outcomes. This study aims to document orbital height, width, depth, and the orbital index among adult patients at Gombe State University Teaching Hospital, North East Nigeria. Measurements will be derived from standardised facial photographs and available computed tomography scans of consenting adult patients. The orbital index, defined as orbital height divided by orbital width multiplied by 100, will be computed and used to classify orbits as microseme, mesoseme, or megaseme. Bilateral symmetry and sex-based differences will be analysed statistically. Findings will provide ophthalmologists, maxillofacial surgeons, and prosthetics specialists in North East Nigeria with a reliable local reference for orbital dimensions, supporting improved clinical planning and reducing complications associated with the use of non-representative reference data.

Keywords: orbital morphometry, orbital index, ophthalmic surgery, Gombe, craniofacial anatomy