Displaced Orbital Fractures with Concurrent Orbital Compartment Syndrome: A Case-Based Systematic Review

Orbital compartment syndrome (OCS) is an emergency that complicates intra-orbital, retrobulbar hemorrhage in most cases. Bony orbital decompression is an effective treatment for OCS, and displaced orbital fractures are protective. Nevertheless, in rare cases, OCS occurs despite a displaced orbital fracture. The aim of the current review is to present its pathophysiology and management based on what is published in the medical literature, and our center's experience. A systematic review of literature was conducted through PubMed, Medline, Embase, and Cochrane from inception through February 2021. The following search query was used: “orbital fracture” and “trauma” and “orbital compartment syndrome.” Studies tackling the pathophysiology and management of concurrent displaced orbital fracture with OCS were included and a cohort of patients was constituted. A cohort of 18 cases reported in the literature were included (49.3 ± 30.6 years, 50% M). Given that OCS occurs with or without orbital fracture, pathophysiology of OCS is mostly explained by the division of the orbital fat into many compartments, due to the presence of Koorneef's fibrous septa. Management of OCS in such circumstances consisted of inferior-lateral canthotomy and cantholysis in 50% of cases, subperiosteal drainage with myringotomy in 22.2% of cases, subperiosteal drainage in 16.7% of cases, and complete lateral cantholysis in 16.7% of cases. Two cases who presented to our tertiary care center were also added to this review. Physicians should be aware that OCS can occur even with displaced fractures of the orbital cavity. When clinical suspicion is present, an emergent management is needed.

First description of a retrobulbar haemorrhage in a paediatric patient

An 8-year-old girl presented to the paediatric emergency department 3 days after left orbital exploration for an orbital floor fracture. She had been vomiting for the last 24 hours and her mother’s primary reason for presentation was that she was unable to keep down any analgesia . She reported pain in that eye and was unable to see. On examination, the eye was swollen and had yellow discharge. A CT scan was performed to rule out an infective collection and, unexpectedly, showed a retrobulbar haematoma. Ophthalmology was called and she was immediately taken to theatre for a lateral canthotomy for decompression. Fortunately, she regained her vision following this but, had the retrobulbar haematoma not been recognised urgently, she may have lost her vision permanently in that eye. Retrobulbar haematomas are quite rare in children this age and there is very little published literature on this topic.

Delayed Sudden Blindness From Unilateral Ophthalmic Artery Vasospasm Following Endoscopic Sinus Surgery?

Keywords: ophthalmic artery; vasospasm; iatrogenic; endoscopic sinus surgery; blindness Endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) is a generally benign, minimally invasive procedure used for management of paranasal sinus diseases, although complications may occur due to proximity of vital structures such as the brain, orbit and great vessels.1 The overall ESS major complication rate is 0.5-1%, of which orbital injury accounts for 0.09% due to direct trauma.2 We report a case of unilateral delayed sudden visual loss without orbital trauma observed intraoperatively or on post[1]operative imaging studies, following a seemingly routine endoscopic sinus surgery for chronic rhinosinusitis. CASE REPORT An 18-year-old lad with no significant medical history underwent ESS for bilateral chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis. (Figure 1 A-D) The surgery and recovery from anesthesia were uneventful. On the 12th hour post-operatively, the patient noted blurring of vision on the left. Ophthalmologic examination revealed hyperemic conjunctiva (Figure 2A) with visual acuity of counting fingers at 1 foot while fundoscopy showed retinal hemorrhages. Extraocular eye movements (EOM) and intraocular pressure (IOP) were normal (12mmHg). With an assessment of pre-retinal hemorrhages, 500 mg Tranexamic acid was intravenously infused, and a paranasal sinus (PNS) computed tomography (CT) scan and orbital magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were requested. A few hours later, he complained of left eye pain with increasing intensity and further deterioration of vision. Repeat visual acuity testing showed light perception. There was now a constricted pupil, non-reactive pupillary light reflex, periorbital swelling and progression of conjunctival chemosis. (Figure 2B) The IOP of the left eye had increased to 30mmHg then progressed to 40mmHg with development of total visual loss and a lateral gaze limitation. With an impression of choroidal hemorrhage and retrobulbar hemorrhage, a lateral canthotomy relieved the eye pain. The contrast PNS CT scan with orbital cuts showed that the lamina papyracea was intact with no definite hemorrhagic collections in the intraconal or extraconal spaces of both orbits. (Figure 3A, B) A small hyper density along the lateral inferior margin of the left globe at the intraconal region with slight thickening of the anterior periorbital region represented the lateral canthotomy. The PNS MRI / magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) with orbital cuts showed retinal detachment and periorbital edema in the left eye. (Figure 4) A B-Scan ocular ultrasonogram showed retinal detachment and vitreous opacities. The diagnosis was ocular ischemic syndrome secondary to ophthalmic artery vasospasm, and the patient was given sublingual nitroglycerine and intravenous dexamethasone 8mg every 12 hours for 24 hours, with improvement of periorbital swelling. He was discharged after 12 days with no resolution of the unilateral visual loss.

Modified Loop Myopexy (Yokoyama’s Procedure) for High Myopic Strabismus Fixus

In the classic loop myopexy (Yokoyama) procedure, muscle belly union in the deep orbit is technically difficult, particularly in patients with deep-set eyes and narrow palpebral fissures. Our modified procedure includes a lateral canthotomy and cantholysis and upper conjunctival fornix incisions to facilitate this step.