Citation

Hwang K, Kim DH, Lee HS. J. Craniofac. Surg. 2011; 22(4): 1506-1507.

Affiliation

Departments of Plastic Surgery, and Center for Advanced Medical Education by BK21 Project, Plastic Surgery, and Anesthesiology, Inha University School of Medicine, Incheon, Korea.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2011, Lippincott Williams and Wilkins)

DOI

10.1097/SCS.0b013e31821d4c3a

PMID

21778848

Abstract

We present a case of orbital fracture associated with emphysema and pneumocephalus caused by a high-pressured air injection in the eyeball.

A 49-year-old man injured his right eye while working with a high-pressure (compressed) air jet in a workshop. The periorbital area was swollen and ecchymotic. The bulbar conjunctiva sustained multiple lacerations around the pupil: 9 mm at 12 o'clock in direction, 6 mm at 3, 8 mm at 6, and 6 mm at 9, respectively. Computed tomography showed crisp emphysema around the right orbit, and a fracture of the medial wall of the orbit. Free air was also seen near the basal cistern and sylvian fissure, indicating a pneumocephalus.Our case proved a high pneumatic pressure could induce a fracture of the medial wall of the orbit. Green et al (Ophthal Plast Reconstr Surg 1990;6:211-217) suggested that a consistent force of more than 2.08 J is enough to inflict injury on the orbital wall.

Language: en