Orbital fractures pose a significant concern in professional sports due to their potential effects on vision and extended recovery times. This study aimed to characterize the common mechanisms of orbital fractures among professional athletes and evaluate the average time needed to resume sports. Utilizing a comprehensive online injury database (www.ProSportsTransactions.com), this retrospective study identified all fractures to the orbital bones among Major League Baseball (MLB), National Football League (NFL), National Hockey League (NHL), and National Basketball Association (NBA) athletes between January 2000 and July 2022. The interval between orbital fracture and return to play was defined as return to sport. These timelines and injury causes were corroborated using publicly available reports and press releases. Athletes who did not return were excluded from the calculation. A total of 29 cases were identified: MLB (11), NBA (8), NHL (6), and NFL (4). Two injuries (7%) ended careers, whereas 8 (28%) ended the season. Among the 27 players who returned to sport, the average number of days absent was 92.5 (range: 1-315). The causes of orbital fractures included collisions with another player [12 (41%)], ball/puck [11 (38%)], punches [4 (14%)], and hockey stick [2 (7%)]. Most professional athletes who experienced orbital fractures returned to play in the same season. Return to sport varied widely depending on the severity of the injury and was often influenced by vision-specific sequelae. Further investigation is necessary to determine additional factors that may assist in accurately predicting return to sport among athletes with orbital fractures.
Keywords: Eye injury; orbital fracture; professional athletes; sports-related trauma.
Copyright © 2025 by Mutaz B. Habal, MD.